When clients send us new plant material, it often arrives as cuttings — small pieces of stem with 5-10 buds.

Step 1: Receiving

We check each cutting carefully and label the box with the variety name and the date received. This helps us track every batch.

Step 2: Preparing

Using clean tools and gloves (to avoid cross-contamination), we cut the material into smaller sections, each with one stem and one bud. Extra stems or leaf parts are removed to make sterilisation easier.

Step 3: Storage

Until we start work, cuttings are stored in the fridge at 5°C in a box lined with a damp kitchen towel to keep them fresh.

 TIP: We only sterilise a quarter of the cuttings at first. If anything goes wrong, the rest of the batch is kept safe for later.