Propagation: basic how to on propagation based on my experience, 1 by Pughbear7

Pughbear7 wrote:
Greetings to everyone:
I have been asked to start this thread
we came from the coop for propagation supplies http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/863680/

I will do my best to answer any and all questions or requests. All information is based on my personal experience. I will try to check on this thread on a daily basis, but please understand that I have some health issues that may keep me away from time to time. Feel free to dmail me if you need or want to.
A little bit about me. I hold a degree in ornamental horticulture from Oklahoma State University. My major study track was green house production and floriculture. The degree program is a well rounded one that encompasses all aspects of the horticulture field. I ran 2 nurseries in sw florida as well as was in charge of the grounds maintence for all flowers, trees and shrubs at a 27 hole golf course. I have a lot of knowledge but I do admit I don't know everything and I am not afraid to admit it. the picture is an old airial photo of one of the nurseries I ran quite some time ago.
I hope to do a pictured guide on how to prepare cuttings for asexual reproduction of most woody ornamentals and a lot of the plants you see at the local garden center.
Ok now the disclaimer... LOL keep both hands and feet inside the car at all times....
Plant patents: When a grower produces a new sport, cultivar or variation and can prove how they got the results they can apply for a patent on the specific plant. What this means is that the patent holder has the right to collect a fee for every cutting taken from the parent plant that was patented. On the label or tag of a plant it will have a patent number or PPAF - Plant Patent Appled For. From what I have read on the subject the patent is good for 20 years. This is my basic understanding of the process as it applies to propagation by cutting. Most of the pointsettias we all love at Christmas time are patented and they collect so much for every cutting. The patent holder employes school teachers during the summer to travel around to most of the comercial green houses. They then take a measurement of the stock plant and can calculate close to exact how many cuttings the stock plants produce. Patent holder guard their rights vigorously. It figuires out to about 3 cents per cutting. This fee might have changed with inflation.