How can I take and root Cuttings?

Past_User

By Joe Spagnola on Monday, February 7, 2000 - 11:21 am:

I have heard that a person could cut a portion of a tree (be it a big one outside or one that is indoors) and turn that cut into another tree. If this is so, what do I need to do in order to do this and when is a good time to do so? Any input on this matter will be welcome.

My address is joespags@excite.com. Thank you.

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TreeBay

Hi Joe,

Many plants can be propagated by cuttings. _You can take cuttings from green (this season's wood) or hardwood cuttings from last season's.

Easy plants to strike include most fruit trees (like crabapple and quince), redwood, wisteria, elm and others. _Difficult plants to strike from cuttings include most conifers like pines, with Juniper being among the easiest within that group.

Cuttings should be taken when the plant is dormant. _This can be during the late fall or early winter. _Some have had success taking cuttings from crabapple during the high heat of summer, when growth is almost at a standstill.

• Harvest a handful of cuttings 8-10 inches long from the terminal spurs of the plant, and make a pair of angled cuts _on each one with a very sharp knife at the base of the stalk in order to bevel it at about 20 degrees.
• If you can't tell the ends of the cutting apart, mark them as they are taken. _You want to bevel the base end and be sure this is the end you plant.
• Next, dip the cuttings in Rootone (a powdered rooting hormone) and plant them in fast draining, sterile soil or striking mix of 50%peat and 50%perlite at an angle of about 45 degrees, spaced 5" or so apart.
• In a few weeks the flower buds will open, then the leaf buds and many of the cuttings will "strike" roots. _ This isn't 100% successful, but it is very effective.

In order to get roots, you will need to keep the growing plants warm and well drained.

Another way to propagate plants is to divide the roots. _This is a sure-fire method with plants like elm and persimmon. _ I have yet to get maple to propagate this way, however!

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ripsgreentree

Matt:
Campestre or field maple will strike from root cuttings the same as elm but not with the same percentage of takes.

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ripsgreentree

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