I've been trying to propagate a madrone for well over a yr, and I think I finally did it! Has anyone else ever done this? I took the cutting on Sept 5th, and just a couple of days ago, I noticed a little green growth... a new leaf is growing!! Its in my greenhouse and seems happy enough now. Any tips or advice from anyone would be appreciated... this is my first, I'm excited about it and really don't want to hurt it!! Thanks in advance!
Texas Madrone
Oh Wow!!! How exciting!!! I have been wanting one of those for a long time. I hope it works well for you, I hear they are slow growers and finicky.
Here is a link that might help you with its requirements, I hope it helps. And please keep us informed on the progress. Josephine.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/arbutusxalapensis.htm
Nice job, I have been researching that plant myself. I'm wondering if they will grow in the DFW area or is it too cold.
I've read they are extremely slow growing, hate transplanting, overwatering - fertilizing, and may even need Junipers near by. I'd try to emulate their natural home in SW Texas. Use very sandy fast draining soil with little compost unless its Cedar based.
I grew a Tx Mt Laurel from seed this summer but it died from over watering this winter. I'd keep it dry and alkaline. Let us know how it turns out.
The link says hardy to zone 7 so it should fine here, as far as the cold is concerned.
That's quite a feat, if it makes it! I've heard cuttings are difficult to root with Madrones. Was it from a small plant? Anyway, Jill Nokes' book talks about a Mycorrhizal fungi that benefits wild Madrone seedlings, but nobody knows which one. Suggests inoculating potting soil with native soil dug from under an Ashe Juniper (often a nurse plant for Madrones in the wild) or from around the parent plant.
The cutting was just a few inches tall and I planted it in soil I dug out from around the roots of the mama tree. It seems so fragile right now, in a 4" pot w/ that little bit of green growth, but its green!! I take care of other peoples' critters in my "spare" time and it just so happens I'll be taking care of the critters where the madrones are next week...maybe I'll try some more. They told us in our Master Gardener classes last yr that we could propagate anything, and I guess I need to find out if that's true!