Take softwood cuttings

The soft and flexible shoot tips of young growth root easily.

However, soft material loses water rapidly so it is best to take cuttings in the morning when the plant is still full of moisture.Choose pest and disease free material that is typical of the mother plant.

Using a sharp knife remove a shoot tip 10cm long, cutting just above a leaf joint (node).  Reduce the cutting to 5 - 7cm, trimming to just below a leaf joint, and remove the lower leaves from the stem. 

The softest part of the growing tip may be pinched out, but this is not essential. Larger leaves, such as those of Pelargonium may be cleanly cut in half to help reduce water loss.  

Hormone rooting powder is not essential for softwood cuttings, but may be beneficial for some genera.Cuttings should be inserted into a well-drained compost - a proprietary cuttings compost plus 50% sand, perlite or vermiculite is ideal. 

Dib a hole and insert the cutting so that the lower leaves are just clear of the compost.  Cuttings may be inserted around the perimeter of a container to improve drainage and air flow. 

Firm the compost around the cuttings and water lightly.

Cover with a polythene bag, secured with an elastic band, or place in a heated propagator or mist unit. A temperature of 21 - 24^o  is ideal, but cuttings should be shaded from strong sunlight. 

Ensure the compost does not dry out, but over-watering encourages rotting.

Some plants will root within a couple of weeks, others will take longer.  

Check for root growth by very gently tugging on the cutting - resistance means new roots are forming, or knock the compost out of the pot to look for roots. 

When cuttings have rooted they should be acclimatized to the normal atmosphere through hardening off, potted up separately and grown on for planting out at a later date.