**2. Cutting**

When the lateral branches (cuttings) are 1215 cm long, they are cut with a sharp knife. The section must be made near the new axillary bud that will produce the branch, which will produce cuttings. After the first harvest, additional harvests are made at intervals of 1215 days. These have cuttings yield of 3060% more than that of the first harvest. In total, between 20 and 60 cuttings are obtained per mother plant.

Cuttings should preferably have a stem 45 cm below the node of the first leaf. If cuttings cannot be planted immediately, they can be stored in the refrigerator at 46°C for up to 2 days.

### **3. Culture of cuttings**

The cuttings are planted at 5 5 cm spacing, on tables (bins) containing a welldrained substrate, of washed sand (size 12 mm). If necessary, cuttings can be dipped in a hormone-containing solution (auxin) to activate root formation for 23 days. When cuttings are planted, the lowest leaf node should be below the sand and the roots should have good contact with the soil. If the hormone has been used, irrigation should be done at least in 2 hours to allow its impregnation. Plants must be grown under shade.
