Crotons ?

While walking the dog I pulled some nice full bushy croton branches that had been trimmed, out of a dumpster. What's the best way to go about rooting them?

Do I really have to trim all the leaves off, because then they'll just be big sticks.

Neil

Good morning, Neil!
Crotons are my favorite and cutting can be easily rooted. I have what I call my "plant hospital" table which has a tray of water on it. Sometimes I use rootone on my cuttings- it definitely helps. I DON'T shave off any bark- I find that hurts not hinders root growth. I pull of the very bottom leaves altho most will fall off in time anyway. I use just a cheap garden soil too. It will be awhile before they perk up and I'd say I might lose 20% of my cuttings.

Today, I have to dig up a croton hedge that the bed has filled with rain water and is drowning them. I have to do the raised bed thing. Go figure! You can root with wet soil but then after that, they hate it!

Good luck with the new plants!

Thanks
Its all a bit swampy down here too. Good luck making your bed ;)

I missed something you all said. Do you take cuttings from an actual leaf with its stem? Or are you actually cutting of the top of the plant and taking cuttings from that? Here is the croton I would love to try it on. Thanks!

I've started quite a few crotons from cuttings and cyberageous is right -- they're very easy. I just cut a stem, strip off a few of the lower leaves, put rooting hormone on the end (although I've done it without this step too) and plop it into potting soil. They take quite a while to get good sized but I've had near 100% success with rooting. Here's a pic of a few I started -- these have been growing since last fall.

-- Vicky

Oh, I see what you mean now. Mine just has one main stem going up and I would hate to cut that. Unless when I cut it maybe two stalks will grow from where I cut it maybe? Your plants look nice big and healthy!
Thanks! Melaney

Well if you cut that one branch it will split and get bushier. And you can root the piece you cut off the top. Good luck!

-- Vicky

Awesome, thanks for the info! I will give it a try.
Thanks! Melaney