Taking stem tip cuttings

1 Fill a small pot with a 50:50 mix of seed and cutting compost and horticultural sand. Water with tap water and allow to drain. Dib five or six holes around the edge.

2 Choose a healthy stem with no flowers or buds. Take a 3-5in (7-12cm) length off the top, cutting just above a leaf joint. Trim the base to just below a leaf joint.

3 Carefully remove leaves from the stem leaving three or four at the tip. Dip the base of the stem in hormone rooting powder, then insert in a dibbed hole in the pot.

4 Take more cuttings to fill the pot, but don’t let them touch. Pop in a warm propagator or cover pot with a clear plastic bag and place on a warm windowsill.