Which method is commonly used for propagating plants asexually?

Asexual propagation is a method used to create new plants from a single parent, allowing for genetic consistency. Among various techniques, using cuttings is one of the most widely employed methods.

When utilizing cuttings for propagation, a section of a plant—often a stem, leaf, or root—is cut and placed in a suitable growth medium. The cutting can then develop roots and eventually grow into a new plant that is genetically identical to the parent. This method is favored because it can be simple to perform and can yield a significant number of new plants in a relatively short time, making it an efficient practice in horticulture.

While layering is also a method of asexual propagation where a branch is encouraged to root while still attached to the parent plant, and grafting involves joining parts from two different plants so they grow as one, cuttings remain more common due to their straightforwardness and broad applicability across various plant species. Seed sowing, on the other hand, is a sexual propagation method that mixes genetic traits, leading to variability among the new plants. Therefore, cuttings are recognized as the primary method in asexual propagation practices.