Which gardening technique uses plant parts to create new plants?

The technique that uses plant parts to create new plants is grafting. Grafting involves joining two different plants together so that they grow as one. This is typically done by taking a segment from one plant, known as the scion, and attaching it to the root system of another plant, referred to as the rootstock. This method is widely used to propagate plants that may not grow well from seeds or cuttings and allows for the combination of desirable traits from both plants, such as disease resistance and fruit quality.

In contrast, sowing involves planting seeds directly into the soil to grow new plants; this process does not utilize plant parts from existing plants. Cutting, while it does refer to the method of propagating plants using sections of stems or leaves, is distinct from grafting because it does not involve joining two different plants together. Lastly, pruning is the practice of trimming plants for maintenance or to encourage growth, and it does not create new plants. Thus, grafting is the definitive technique that employs parts of existing plants to generate new plant life.