In simple layering, how is the stem treated during propagation?

In simple layering, the stem is bent to the ground and covered with a medium. This method promotes propagation by allowing parts of the stem to root while still attached to the parent plant. As the stem is bent, it creates a stress that encourages the formation of roots at the point where it is buried in the soil or growing medium. This technique is particularly effective for plants that have long, flexible stems, enabling them to produce new plants without being completely severed from the parent. Once roots develop, the new plant can be separated and planted on its own.

The other methods mentioned do not describe simple layering. Girdling the stem with cuts (the first option) is a technique that can promote rooting by removing a section of the bark but does not involve covering it with medium. Burying the tip of a shoot in the medium (the third option) pertains to a different process known as mound layering or tip layering, which is distinct from simple layering. Slitting the veins of the leaf (the fourth option) is a method that can encourage rooting but is not relevant to the layering process itself.