Rooting powder is mixed with water to make a thin paste. It sticks to the stems better and reduces risk of inhaling the dust. This procedure will work without rooting powder. However it is highly recommended to speed the rooting process and reduce the risk of cuttings rotting since commercial rooting powders usually contain fungicide also. If you don't have rooting powder at least apply some sort of general fungicide.
	Cutting is removed from the plant. N. gracilis squat variety in this case.
	Cutting is divided up between the nodes. Plants with a short internode are usually chopped into segments with 2 or 3 nodes. Plants with a long internode (2" or more are usually chopped into cuttings with a single leaf node). Longer cuttings are certainly acceptable, depending on your goals.
	The lower leaves are removed and the remaining leaves are trimmed.
	The lower portion of the stem is cut on opposite sides along its length. The depth of the cut is approximately 1/4 of the the thickness of the stem. Length of cuts will vary with the length of the cutting, from a half inch to a couple inches in length.
	The rooting powder paste is applied generously, making sure to cover the cuts completely.
	A large hole is made in the potting media, so that the paste wont be rubbed off when inserting the cutting. Pure sphagnum, peat/perlite mix works fine, making sure the medium is very moist but not waterlogged.
	A pot full of cuttings, ready to be watered lightly and placed in a ziplock bag. Bagged cuttings are placed under fluorescent lights until they root and new growth emerges from the leaf nodes. They should be periodically checked for moisture content and rotting problems.
	Approximately one month later. Dormant buds have begun to grow. This occurs at approximately the same time that roots are developing. Length of time for this stage will vary depending on species/hybrid, cultural conditions, use of rooting hormone etc.
	Here you can see roots starting to emerge along the length of the vertical cuts. Within another couple weeks or so the new growth and roots should be developed enough to replant the cuttings into individual pots and move them to the main growing area.

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