What is the main characteristic of tip layering?

Tip layering is a propagation technique used primarily for woody plants, and its main characteristic involves rooting occurring at the bend created by the tip of a stem that has been bent down to the ground. In this method, the growing tip of a young plant or stem is buried in soil while the remainder of the stem stands upright. As the tip contacts the soil, it develops roots from the bent portion. This is advantageous because it allows the plant to produce new roots while still connected to the parent plant, facilitating nutrient uptake and stabilizing the new root system during its initial growth phase.

The other choices do not accurately describe the defining features of tip layering. While there may be other propagation techniques that involve slitting veins or removing bark, those methods pertain to grafting or other types of layering rather than specifically tip layering. Additionally, applying medium to exposed stems is more characteristic of air layering rather than the distinctive characteristics of tip layering.