Question about propagation....

I was wondering if propagating from cuttings is a good way of getting more plants. I hate to waste good branches when I cut back in the fall... And is fall a good time for cuttings?? It just drives me nutz to waste good branches... lol

And how long would it take to see a bloom from cutting propagation??

Thanks,
Carolyn

Carolyn,
Cuttings that are about 6-9 inches long of tip growth can be rooted in jars of water in the fall.Cut the end at a 45 degree angle and take a sharp knife and carefully scrape off a little bit of the bark(just down to a bright green layer) at the edges of the cut.This is where the callus will form and roots will develop there. Put a few pieces of aquarium charcoal in the water to keep it clean and keep bacteria down.The first few days change the water daily till it will remain clear for 3 days straight.Then only CHANGE the water if it gets cloudy at all. Otherwise just add water as it evaporates. then wait. Cuttings can bloom while in the water jar, but most won't bloom till they are potted.Quick way to get blooming plants..

Kyle :-)

Thanks for this great info, Eclipse, I'll try that myself when I next have branches!

Bridget

My technique is to take my cuttings --at least 9" long, up to 12" or even 15"-- gently scrape away just enough of the grey outer layer to show some light green. Scrape a couple inches, between the very end up to and beyond a few nubs. Stick the scraped end into your bottle of rooting hormone, stir it around a bit, then tap it gently as you withdraw it from the bottle, to get excess powder off. Have a pot ready --4" at least for one piece, larger if you're going to "gang" several cuttings-- filled with clean, light , potting mix (equal parts fine pine, perlite or vermiclite, peat moss, plus some moisture crystals if you want) fully moistened. Compact the soil till it's firm, squeeze till some of the water starts flowing out the drainage hole (must have drainage). Make a 3-4" hole in the compacted soil with a dibble or a pencil. Gently insert a cutting into each hole, tighten the soil down to make good contact with the cutting. Keep warm, moist, well-lighted.

This works almost every time for me, even with (MUCH) larger cuttings I've jammed right into the ground. In fact, I've grown a nice hedge in only a couple years this way.

Not saying Eclipse's method won't work --it sounds very good, actually, since it allows you to see the cuttings root, and you never have to think about whether to water the soil, as I do. My method evolved practically --I usually do it only as I am departing Vieques for DC, late as usual, and I had to make it a one-step deal. (I have irrigation set up while I'm gone, usually for a month or more --rarely see this fail, despite no "adult supervision".)