A limited range of plants, particularly ones that naturally produce suckers from the roots can be propagated from root cuttings. In this activity, I propagated Wisteria sinensis, whilst others propagated Acanthus mollis, using this technique.
Appropriate cuttings were located by digging carefully with a trowel around the base of the selected Wisteria vine, ensuring no damage was done to the larger root system. Root cuttings were of pencil-thickness, although thinner root cuttings are also just as successful. The thinner the cutting the longer they should be. Cuttings are best done in autumn or winter when the plant is dormant. The cuttings are then lightly washed in water to remove soil.
Each root section is cut into approx. 5cm sections. To make sure the cuttings are inserted the right way up, the base is cut horizontally and the top at and angle. 
The cutting is then dabbed in semi-hardwood rooting hormone and then inserted into the propagation mix.
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The cuttings are then watered thoroughly and placed into the misting house on top of a capillary sand bed with bottom heat.
Ref : RHS Propagating Plants, pg. 23-4, 158
Below is a photo of Acanthus mollis root cuttings prepared on 19th May and photographed on the heating and misting beds almost a month later on 17th June :
Excellent coverage Ray, it would be great to revisit the results of this operation at a later date. After a few weeks it has been noticeable that new shoots and roots are being produced in the cuttings.
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