Friday, January 27, 2012

What is the best way to propagate my hydrangea and star jasmine?

ROOTING CUTTINGS IN FIVE EASY STEPS

Take a cutting from a branch of the hydrangea shrub about 5-6" long. Most experts say the cutting will work best if taken from a branch that did not flower this year.





Remove the lower leaves of the bottom two leaf nodes.(see pictures #3 and #4)





Cut largest leaves down to about half their size





Dip cuttings in rooting hormone (this is entirely optional) and insert into damp vermiculite or sterile medium. (See suggestion in NOTE below)





Water pot well and allow to drain. Make sure soil is moist but not soggy. Cover cuttings and pot with plastic. Try to keep plastic from touching leaves by adding stakes







Confederate (Star) Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, is normally propagated from cuttings. Softwood cuttings from partially mature wood taken in the summer or hardwood cuttings taken anytime. Rooting chemicals, bottom heat and mist are most helpful. Confederate Jasmine is not reliably hardy below about 20 degrees F and is subject to freeze damage at slightly higher temperatures so I would be cautious of such an extensive planting.

I hope this helps.Boy Oh Boy , I love your Avatar. It beautiful!

What is the best way to propagate my hydrangea and star jasmine?
Both can be rooted in various manners which requires some practice and expertise.



Division is the easiest way to propagate them, a sure fire method of plants like that. Hydrangea, like Japanese Kerria, Sweet Bubby is commonly found to sucker. Wait a year or so and dig 'em up, separate and pot. After it has adjusted and growing nicely you plant or give away or even SELL for profit at yard sale.



You'll find Hydrange layers easily, the old fashioned way of rooting plants. Take a low branch, score the undersize and put a little Rootone on it, bury it lightly and put a rock on it to conserve moisture. Takes six months to a year but it virtually always takes, then dig up, separate, pot and voila another one.



Softwood cuttings under mist in pure river sand lightened with Vermiculite [and sometimes some peat moss] of either plant can easily result in making a hundred or more babies. It's a skill that takes practice and different plants require subltle changes in media and light and watering.



Purification of media by baking in an oven or the like is a must. Most cutting failures are due to fungal attacks or overwatering which just causes rot. The medium must be constantly MOIST but not WET. Bottom heat helps and misting gives a constant and controllable source of moisture.



In this way if stems are dipped into LIQUID Rootone which is much better than the powdered crap, you can get rooting in as little as two to three weeks.


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