Can you start a magnolia tree from a cutting?
Question:I cut a small limb from a tree and now have it in water, can I root it and plant it?
Answers:
Yes, Magnolia's can be propagated from soft and greenwood cuttings. Softwood cuttings are taken from the tips of new shoots. These shoots must be turgid (flush with water) at the time that they are cut, that is why they usually are collected in the morning. They wilt & dry out quikly, so they need to be prepared quickly and planted right away. Use a well drained and watered planting medium like one part peat mixed with one part coarse sand. The cuttings should be taken at the junction of the new shoot and last years wood. Remove the tips so the cuttings are no more than 4" long. Plant and place cuttings into a plastic film tent or enclosed misting container. Keep the cuttings misted. Apply bottom heat at 68-75 degrees F. Rooting should occur within 6-10 weeks.
"A Well Lit Garden" has an excellent and correct answer. One bit of advice - once the cutting is in the planting medium, do not disturb it by checking to see it it is rooted, as you will tear off the tiny and fragile roots resulting in "instant failure".
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