How do I create a sapling from an existing Cedar tree to plant?
Question:I'd like to plant a few cedar trees in my yard and take branches from the existing cedar trees to do so. I just need to know what to cut and how to do it in order to create my new trees.
Answers:
The following applies to Red Cedar.
.
Propagation from Cuttings
Cuttings are made 5 to 15 cm (2 to 65 inches) long from new lateral growth tips stripped of older branches. A small piece of old wood, “a heel,” is thus left attached to the base of the cutting. Some propagators believe this to be advantageous. In other cases, good results are obtained when the cuttings are just clipped without the “heel” from the older wood. Cuttings from the current season’s terminal growth also root well.
Cuttings to be rooted in the greenhouse can be taken at any time during the winter or rooted outdoors on heated beds. Exposing the stock plants to several hard freezes seems to give better rooting. Optimum time for taking cuttings is when stock plants have ceased growth (i.e. the late fall-winter propagation period is more successful than summer). For propagating in an outdoor cold frame, cuttings are taken in late summer or early fall. There may be advantages to using bottom heat. Lightly wounding the base of the cuttings is sometimes helpful, and the use of root-promoting chemicals, especially IBA, is beneficial. Recommendations for root-promoting chemicals include the following: 2500 IBA Quick-dip (Alabama), 3000 – 8000 ppm IBA liquid, and 0.3-4.5 percent IBA talc. Medium-coarse sand or a 10:1 mixture of perlite and peat moss is a satisfactory rooting medium. Maintenance of a humid environment without excessive wetting of the cuttings is desirable, as is a relatively high light intensity. A light, intermittent mist can be used. Bottom heat of 60-65°F (12°C) is critical the first six weeks of propagation to allow the basal wound of cuttings to callus.
Depending on the type of cedar you have, arborvitae type cedars, like pyramidalis, excelsa and smaragd can start easily from cutting. Others you will need to propagate from seed. Or easier yet just buy in 4" or 1 gal pots is easier.
Use rooting hormone on the cuttings and try to see if they will take. GL =)
the easiest way to do it would be to get you some long fibered sphagnum peat moss... get some saran wrap or aluminum foil... soak the sphagnum peat moss and let it sit for atleast 10 min or overnight... then when your ready take the peat moss and lay a handful or two on a sheet of the saran wrap or tin foil after you squeeze the excess water out...
then go to your tree with a sharp sterile knife and rooting hormone, toothpick and small paintbrush... pick a spot probably 6,8,10 inches from the end and make a small sliver under the bark... just enough to reach the inner tissue of the tree... stick the toothpick under the slit to keep it open then dust the hormone under this... the place your sphagnum burrito firmly around the cut and all the way around the limb... tie the burrito on both ends to hold in moisture... then if you are successful in rooting it after about a month (depends on the plant) you can cut below those roots and plant that tree...
More Related Questions & Answers...