How To Root Cuttings
Many people say that shrubs, bushes
and trees are the backbone of garden design. Many times, these plants provide
structure and architecture around which the rest of the garden is created.
Unfortunately, shrubs, bushes and trees tend to be the most expensive plants to
purchase for your garden.
1.
There is one way to save money
though on these higher ticket items.
2.
This is to start your own from
cuttings.
3.
There are two types of cuttings to
start
4.
shrubs, bushes and trees —
5.
hardwood cuttings and softwood
cuttings.
These phrases refer to the state the
wood of the plant is in:
· New growth that is still pliable and has not yet developed a
bark exterior is called softwood.
· Older growth, which has developed a bark exterior, is called
hardwood.
How to Root Hardwood Cuttings:
Hardwood cuttings are typically
taken in early spring or early winter when the plant is not actively growing.
But, in a pinch, hardwood cuttings can be taken anytime of the year.
· The point of taking hardwood cuttings in non-growth periods
is more to do with doing as little harm to the parent plant as possible.
· Hardwood cuttings are also only taken from shrubs, bushes
and trees that lose their leaves every year.
This method will not work with
evergreen plants.
· Cut off a hardwood cutting that is 12 to 48 inches long.
· Trim the end of the cutting to be planted just below where a
leaf bud grows on the branch.
· Cut off the top of the branch so that there are at least two
additional leaf buds above the bottom leaf bud.
· make sure that the area left is at least 6 inches long.
· Additional buds can be left on the branch if necessary to
make sure the branch is 6 inches.
· Strip the bottom most leafbuds and the topmost layer of bark
2 inches above this.
· Do not cut too deeply into the branch.
· You only need to take off the top layer and you do not need
to be thorough about it.
· Place the stripped area in rooting hormone, then put the
stripped end into a small pot of damp soilless mix.
· Wrap the whole pot and cutting in a plastic bag.
· Tie off the top but make sure the plastic is not touching
the cutting at all.
· Place the pot in a warm spot that gets indirect light.
· Do not put in full sunlight. Check the plant every two weeks
or so to see if roots have developed.
· Once roots have developed, remove the plastic covering.
· The plant will be ready to grow outdoors when the weather is
suitable.
How to Root Softwood Cuttings:
· Softwood cuttings are normally taken when the plant is in
active growth, which is normally in the spring.
· This will be the only time you will be able to find softwood
on a shrub, bush or tree.
· This method can be used with all types of shrubs, bushes and
trees.
· Cut a piece of softwood off the plant that is at least 6″
long, but no longer than 12 inches.
· Make sure that there is at least three leaves on the
cutting.
· Remove any flowers or fruit on the cutting.
· Trim the stem to just below where the bottom most leaf meets
the stem.
· On each of the leaves on the stem, cut off half of the leaf.
· Dip the end of the cutting to be rooted in rooting hormone
· Put the end to be rooted into a small pot of damp soiless
mix.
· Wrap the whole pot and cutting in a plastic bag.
· Tie off the top but make sure the plastic is not touching
the cutting at all.
· Place the pot in a warm spot that gets indirect light.
· Do not put in full sunlight.
· Check the plant every two weeks or so to see if roots have
developed.
· Once roots have developed, remove the plastic covering.
· The plant will be ready to grow outdoors when the weather is
suitable.
How To Root Cuttings
From Various Shrubs, Bushes And Trees
General Tree Care
By: Heather Rhoades
Printer Friendly Version
Image by peganum
Many people say that shrubs, bushes and trees are the backbone of garden
design. Many times, these plants provide structure and architecture
around which the rest of the garden is created. Unfortunately, shrubs,
bushes and trees tend to be the most expensive plants to purchase for
your garden.
There is one way to save money though on these higher ticket items. This
is to start your own from cuttings.
There are two types of cuttings to start shrubs, bushes and trees —
hardwood cuttings and softwood cuttings. These phrases refer to the
state the wood of the plant is in. New growth that is still pliable and
has not yet developed a bark exterior is called softwood. Older growth,
which has developed a bark exterior, is called hardwood.
How to Root Hardwood Cuttings
Hardwood cuttings are typically taken in early spring or early winter
when the plant is not actively growing. But, in a pinch, hardwood
cuttings can be taken anytime of the year. The point of taking hardwood
cuttings in non-growth periods is more to do with doing as little harm
to the parent plant as possible.
Hardwood cuttings are also only taken from shrubs, bushes and trees that
lose their leaves every year. This method will not work with evergreen
plants.
Cut
off a hardwood cutting that is 12 to 48 inches long.
Trim the end of the cutting to be planted just below where a leafbud
grows on the branch.
Cut off the top of the branch so that there are at least two
additional leafbuds above the bottom leafbud. Also, make sure that the
area left is at least 6 inches long. Additional buds can be left on the
branch if necessary to make sure the branch is 6 inches.
Strip the bottom most leafbuds and the topmost layer of bark 2
inches above this. Do not cut too deeply into the branch. You only need
to take off the top layer and you do not need to be thorough about it.
Place the stripped area in rooting hormone, then put the stripped
end into a small pot of damp soilless mix.
Wrap the whole pot and cutting in a plastic bag. Tie off the top but
make sure the plastic is not touching the cutting at all.
Place the pot in a warm spot that gets indirect light. Do not put in
full sunlight.
Check the plant every two weeks or so to see if roots have
developed.
Once roots have developed, remove the plastic covering. The plant
will be ready to grow outdoors when the weather is suitable.
How to Root Softwood Cuttings
Softwood cuttings are normally taken when the plant is in active growth,
which is normally in the spring. This will be the only time you will be
able to find softwood on a shrub, bush or tree. This method can be used
with all types of shrubs, bushes and trees.
Cut a piece of softwood off the plant that is at least 6″ long, but
no longer than 12 inches. Make sure that there is at least three leaves
on the cutting.
Remove any flowers or fruit on the cutting.
Trim the stem to just below where the bottom most leaf meets the
stem.
On each of the leaves on the stem, cut off half of the leaf.
Dip the end of the cutting to be rooted in rooting hormone
Put the end to be rooted into a small pot of damp soiless mix.
Wrap the whole pot and cutting in a plastic bag. Tie off the top but
make sure the plastic is not touching the cutting at all.
Place the pot in a warm spot that gets indirect light. Do not put in
full sunlight.
Check the plant every two weeks or so to see if roots have
developed.
Once roots have developed, remove the plastic covering. The plant
will be ready to grow outdoors when the weather is suitable.
Read more at Gardening Know How: How To Root Cuttings From Various Shrubs, Bushes And Trees
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/how-to-root-cuttings-from-various-shrubs-bushes-and-trees.htm
Growing Hibiscus in
Containers
Many people who are growing a hibiscus plant choose to do so in a
container. This allows them to move the hibiscus plant to ideal
locations, depending on the time of year. Provide the plants with at
least six hours of sunlight, especially if you want to see those lovely
blooms. Although warm, humid conditions are ideal for tropical hibiscus,
you may want to provide a little afternoon shade when it’s overly hot.
Again, containers make this easy to do.
Read more at Gardening Know How: How To Care For Hibiscus Plants
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hibiscus/how-to-care-for-hibiscus-plants.htm
How To Care For
Hibiscus Plants
Hibiscus
By: Heather Rhoades
Printer Friendly Version
Image by miteemaus5
Growing hibiscus is an easy way to add a tropical flair to your garden.
When you know how to care for hibiscus plants, you will be rewarded with
many years of lovely flowers. Let’s look at some tips on how to care
for hibiscus.
Growing Hibiscus in Containers
Many people who are growing a hibiscus plant choose to do so in a
container. This allows them to move the hibiscus plant to ideal
locations, depending on the time of year. Provide the plants with at
least six hours of sunlight, especially if you want to see those lovely
blooms. Although warm, humid conditions are ideal for tropical hibiscus,
you may want to provide a little afternoon shade when it’s overly hot.
Again, containers make this easy to do.
Hibiscus plants prefer a cozy fit when growing in a container. This
means that they should be slightly root bound in the pot and when you do
decide to repot, give the hibiscus only a little bit more room. Always
make sure that your growing hibiscus plant has excellent drainage.
Read more at Gardening Know How: How To Care For Hibiscus Plants
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hibiscus/how-to-care-for-hibiscus-plants.htm
Hibiscus Propagation:
How To Propagate Hibiscus
Hibiscus
By: Heather Rhoades
Printer Friendly Version
Image by Zaqqy J.
Propagating hibiscus, whether tropical hibiscus or hardy hibiscus, can
be done in the home garden and both varieties of hibiscus are propagated
in the same way. Hardy hibiscus is easier to propagate than the
tropical hibiscus, but never fear; with a little bit of knowledge about
how to propagate hibiscus, you can be successful at growing either kind.
Hibiscus Propagation from Hibiscus Cuttings
Both hardy and tropical hibiscus are propagated from cuttings. Hibiscus
cuttings are normally the preferred way of propagating hibiscus because a
cutting will grow to be an exact copy of the parent plant.
When using hibiscus cuttings to propagate hibiscus, start by taking the
cutting. The cutting should be taken from new growth or softwood.
Softwood is branches on the hibiscus that have not yet matured. Softwood
will be pliable and often has a greenish cast. You will mostly find
softwood on a hibiscus in spring or early summer.
The hibiscus cutting should be 4 to 6 inches long. Remove everything but
the top set of leaves. Trim the bottom of the hibiscus cutting to be
cut just below the bottom leaf node (bump where the leaf was growing).
Dip the bottom of the hibiscus cutting in rooting hormone.
The next step for propagating hibiscus from cuttings is to place the
hibiscus cutting in well draining soil. A 50-50 mix of potting soil and
perlite works well. Make sure the rooting soil is thoroughly wet, then
stick a finger into the rooting soil. Place the hibiscus cutting into
the hole and backfill it around the hibiscus cutting.
Place a plastic bag over the cutting, making sure that the plastic does
not touch the leaves. Place the hibiscus cutting in partial shade. Make
sure the rooting soil stays damp (not wet) until the hibiscus cuttings
are rooted. The cuttings should be rooted in about eight weeks. Once
they are rooted, you can repot them in a bigger pot.
Be warned that tropical hibiscus will have a lower rate of success than
hardy hibiscus, but if you start several cuttings of the tropical
hibiscus, there is a good chance at least one will root successfully.
Propagating Hibiscus from Hibiscus Seeds
While both tropical hibiscus and hardy hibiscus can be propagated from
hibiscus seeds, typically only hardy hibiscus is propagated this way.
This is because the seeds will not grow true to the parent plant and
will look different from the parent.
To grow hibiscus seeds, start by nicking or sanding the seeds. This
helps to get moisture into the seeds and improves germination. The
hibiscus seeds can be nicked with a utility knife or sanded with a bit
of fine grain plain sandpaper.
After you have done this, soak the seeds in water overnight.
The next step in propagating hibiscus from seeds is to place the seeds
in the soil. The seeds should be planted twice a deep as they are big.
Since hibiscus seeds tend to be small, you can use the tip of a pen or a
toothpick to make the hole.
Gently sprinkle or sift more soil over where you planted the hibiscus
seeds. This is better than backfilling the holes because you will not
inadvertently push the seeds deeper.
Water the soil once the seeds are planted. You should see seedlings
appear in one to two weeks, but it can take up to four weeks.
Read more at Gardening Know How: Hibiscus Propagation: How To Propagate Hibiscus
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hibiscus/hibiscus-propagation.htm
Propagating hibiscus,
whether tropical hibiscus or hardy hibiscus, can be done in the home
garden and both varieties of hibiscus are propagated in the same way.
Hardy hibiscus is easier to propagate than the tropical hibiscus, but
never fear; with a little bit of knowledge about how to propagate
hibiscus, you can be successful at growing either kind.
Hibiscus Propagation from Hibiscus Cuttings
Both hardy and tropical hibiscus are propagated from cuttings. Hibiscus
cuttings are normally the preferred way of propagating hibiscus because a
cutting will grow to be an exact copy of the parent plant.
When using hibiscus cuttings to propagate hibiscus, start by taking the
cutting. The cutting should be taken from new growth or softwood.
Softwood is branches on the hibiscus that have not yet matured. Softwood
will be pliable and often has a greenish cast. You will mostly find
softwood on a hibiscus in spring or early summer.
The hibiscus cutting should be 4 to 6 inches long. Remove everything but
the top set of leaves. Trim the bottom of the hibiscus cutting to be
cut just below the bottom leaf node (bump where the leaf was growing).
Dip the bottom of the hibiscus cutting in rooting hormone.
The next step for propagating hibiscus from cuttings is to place the
hibiscus cutting in well draining soil. A 50-50 mix of potting soil and
perlite works well. Make sure the rooting soil is thoroughly wet, then
stick a finger into the rooting soil. Place the hibiscus cutting into
the hole and backfill it around the hibiscus cutting.
Place a plastic bag over the cutting, making sure that the plastic does
not touch the leaves. Place the hibiscus cutting in partial shade. Make
sure the rooting soil stays damp (not wet) until the hibiscus cuttings
are rooted. The cuttings should be rooted in about eight weeks. Once
they are rooted, you can repot them in a bigger pot.
Be warned that tropical hibiscus will have a lower rate of success than
hardy hibiscus, but if you start several cuttings of the tropical
hibiscus, there is a good chance at least one will root successfully.
Propagating Hibiscus from Hibiscus Seeds
While both tropical hibiscus and hardy hibiscus can be propagated from
hibiscus seeds, typically only hardy hibiscus is propagated this way.
This is because the seeds will not grow true to the parent plant and
will look different from the parent.
To grow hibiscus seeds, start by nicking or sanding the seeds. This
helps to get moisture into the seeds and improves germination. The
hibiscus seeds can be nicked with a utility knife or sanded with a bit
of fine grain plain sandpaper.
After you have done this, soak the seeds in water overnight.
The next step in propagating hibiscus from seeds is to place the seeds
in the soil. The seeds should be planted twice a deep as they are big.
Since hibiscus seeds tend to be small, you can use the tip of a pen or a
toothpick to make the hole.
Gently sprinkle or sift more soil over where you planted the hibiscus
seeds. This is better than backfilling the holes because you will not
inadvertently push the seeds deeper.
Water the soil once the seeds are planted. You should see seedlings
appear in one to two weeks, but it can take up to four weeks.
Read more at Gardening Know How: Hibiscus Propagation: How To Propagate Hibiscus
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hibiscus/hibiscus-propagation.htm
Propagating hibiscus,
whether tropical hibiscus or hardy hibiscus, can be done in the home
garden and both varieties of hibiscus are propagated in the same way.
Hardy hibiscus is easier to propagate than the tropical hibiscus, but
never fear; with a little bit of knowledge about how to propagate
hibiscus, you can be successful at growing either kind.
Hibiscus Propagation from Hibiscus Cuttings
Both hardy and tropical hibiscus are propagated from cuttings. Hibiscus
cuttings are normally the preferred way of propagating hibiscus because a
cutting will grow to be an exact copy of the parent plant.
When using hibiscus cuttings to propagate hibiscus, start by taking the
cutting. The cutting should be taken from new growth or softwood.
Softwood is branches on the hibiscus that have not yet matured. Softwood
will be pliable and often has a greenish cast. You will mostly find
softwood on a hibiscus in spring or early summer.
The hibiscus cutting should be 4 to 6 inches long. Remove everything but
the top set of leaves. Trim the bottom of the hibiscus cutting to be
cut just below the bottom leaf node (bump where the leaf was growing).
Dip the bottom of the hibiscus cutting in rooting hormone.
The next step for propagating hibiscus from cuttings is to place the
hibiscus cutting in well draining soil. A 50-50 mix of potting soil and
perlite works well. Make sure the rooting soil is thoroughly wet, then
stick a finger into the rooting soil. Place the hibiscus cutting into
the hole and backfill it around the hibiscus cutting.
Place a plastic bag over the cutting, making sure that the plastic does
not touch the leaves. Place the hibiscus cutting in partial shade. Make
sure the rooting soil stays damp (not wet) until the hibiscus cuttings
are rooted. The cuttings should be rooted in about eight weeks. Once
they are rooted, you can repot them in a bigger pot.
Be warned that tropical hibiscus will have a lower rate of success than
hardy hibiscus, but if you start several cuttings of the tropical
hibiscus, there is a good chance at least one will root successfully.
Propagating Hibiscus from Hibiscus Seeds
While both tropical hibiscus and hardy hibiscus can be propagated from
hibiscus seeds, typically only hardy hibiscus is propagated this way.
This is because the seeds will not grow true to the parent plant and
will look different from the parent.
To grow hibiscus seeds, start by nicking or sanding the seeds. This
helps to get moisture into the seeds and improves germination. The
hibiscus seeds can be nicked with a utility knife or sanded with a bit
of fine grain plain sandpaper.
After you have done this, soak the seeds in water overnight.
The next step in propagating hibiscus from seeds is to place the seeds
in the soil. The seeds should be planted twice a deep as they are big.
Since hibiscus seeds tend to be small, you can use the tip of a pen or a
toothpick to make the hole.
Gently sprinkle or sift more soil over where you planted the hibiscus
seeds. This is better than backfilling the holes because you will not
inadvertently push the seeds deeper.
Water the soil once the seeds are planted. You should see seedlings
appear in one to two weeks, but it can take up to four weeks.
Read more at Gardening Know How: Hibiscus Propagation: How To Propagate Hibiscus
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hibiscus/hibiscus-propagation.htm
