Stem cuttings

[jayman]

I was wondering if someone could tell me what's the best medium to set stem cuttings.

[txbeyer]

The answer is very specific to the plant you are trying to propagate. There are many plant propagation sites on the internet that could be helpful but you need to address a specifc plant.

Variables include:
Deciduous vs evergreen
herbaceous or woody
climate zones
the specific genus and species of the plant
etc.

These factors help determine what strength of rooting hormone is needed and what type of propagation is best. Not all plants can be rooted by stem cuttings.

Can you readdress your question by identifying the specific plants you wish to root from stem cuttings?

[jayman]

Peach and cherry. Zone 6.

[txbeyer]

I used to live in northern VA and TN, Zone 7, and that's where I studied horticulture so I probably can answer your question. Most varieties of peach and cherry are grafted or budded plants, both for trees grown for fruit or for spring flowering. Even individual species of Prunus (cherries) are specific regarding propagating techniques. My reference book says "some of the flowering cherry species can be rooted under mist in high percentages if treated with indolebutyric acid (a common rooting hormone) but subsequent survival and overwintering are sometimes difficult" Note that the reference is to species, not cultivars or hybrids. If you are trying to root a plant that is a cultivar (grafted or budded initially), you will need to graft again to reproduce the features of that plant identically. Some species actually come true from seed. This requires a bit of research and study on your part and maybe your local Ag. Ext. Service can help. Once again, I can't specifically answer your question because of all the variables involved. Might be best to just purchase additional plants that have been professionally propagated.

[jayman]

Thank you.

[Ann B.]

Welcome, Jay, to Landspro!

I totally agree with Bob's answer and would like to ask another question.

Do you want to grow these for your own use or to sell them (in small or large quantities)?

[jayman]

For now I want them for home use, but I'd like, someday, to have an orchard.

[pzarks]

My friend has given me a piece of her azalea. It is a branch about 4 feet long with a root about an inch long on it. It has lots of flowers (yellow) and leaves on it. What should I do to ensure that it develops a good strong root system?

Amy
Portland, Oregon
zone 8

[Ann B.]

Welcome to Landspro, Amy!

Just guessing from the color of the flowers (yellow), is this a native azalea?

[pzarks]

I think it is a native azalea... They are all over Portland. The flowers are a sunny yellow with darker yellow "freckles" and very fragrant. I want to make sure it lives... it would look fabulous in my garden!

[Ann B.]

Native azaleas are not as easy to root as the others. I have a friend in Mississippi who is trying to root some of his collection.

I will send him an email and see how he is doing with that effort.

Usually, they are soil layered, but yours is already cut. For now, cut the stem in smaller sections, split the ends, apply a strong rooting hormone, mist or cover with plastic and keep them in shade.

I do adore the natives. There are so many of the others around that you sort of take them for granted, but the natives are spectacular!

Perhaps, some others will provide tips.

I sure hope so. I now have 3 natives in my collection and my neighbor has 2 others.

[lbfoss]

I have not been successful with rooting azalea cuttings, I can layer them attached to the mother plant but not get rooted cuttings. I just noticed your comment about splitting the end of the cuttings, hmmmm. I have tried wounding the bark and dipping in hormone powder and I have tried using the new branched growth ( cutting below where the year's new growth has sprouted and then you have a nice little bush started with branching-which I trimmed down) and yesterday I took the even newer single stems from a branched stem and am trying to get that to root??

1. How thick should the stem of the cutting be?? this year's growth or last year's growth?? With side shoots or just using one of the new side shoots???(I have lots of "wild" shoots coming up above the main bushes that i should have manicured early after blooming but didn't and now the bushes are a bit wild -looking, and I will trim them better next spring after they bloom.) But I have been trying to use these upshoots, but the season may be too far gone for success anyway....and I didn't split the stem bottoms...

Next spring I will devote to propagating azaleas in earnest as you all tell me it is so easy!!!!

[txbeyer]

Azaleas are not easy to root. My greatest success has been ground layering and that takes nearly 6 months. You must use a strong rooting hormone (e.g. Hormodin #3), and root tip cuttings from last years growth (woody).
It took me over 6 months to root from cuttings and once rooted, hardening them off after potting is always a trick as well. I'm sure the commercial wholesale nurseries and growers have it down to a science but for us novices, it is a challenge. I have only rooted azaleas on rare occasion but that has been my experience with it.

[lbfoss]

Thanks, Bob
Several times others have commented on how easy it is to root azaleas, and I have not experienced that. Your reply made me feel better. Yes, layering takes a season for me at least. And so far, my cuttings have looked glorious but failed once the bottle top was removed and they faced the weather. I will give it a try next spring as it is probably too late to try this out now, I am in zone 7 and we have lovely long autumns, but I don't want to winter too many things in the garage this year.

[lbfoss]

The cuttings I did mention have apparently survived the winter in the garage and seem to be okay. So, these I think I had split some of the bottoms of the cuttings, I really don't recall. But I am excited that they are still alive. I will move them out into the light in another month or so, right now they sit in an east garage window. Thank you all for the advice!