Bonsaify | Three Techniques for Cotoneaster Bonsai Propagation

There are many reasons why propagation is a great tool for anyone who loves working with bonsai trees. It's an inexpensive way to create more material to work with, and a great way to make small trees (mame and shohin).
Because there are so many different ways to do it, propagation can get really confusing. There are many variables to keep in mind - time of year, rooting hormone, rooting media, health of parent plant, size of cutting, whether parent plant is healthy or has any diseases, will you use bottom heat, will you mist the cuttings to keep them from drying out. To avoid the confusion, Eric suggests you try one technique first, using whatever you have available, and if it doesn't succeed, don't let that stop you from trying again!
Eric shares his top three techniques for propagating, using Cotoneaster. Be sure to watch at 9:50 for two key tips on keeping your cuttings healthy! He covers how to propagate using the ground layering / air layering technique from 10:20.
If you'd like to learn more about propagating mame, shohin, and larger bonsai trees, be sure to read this article, "For a Great Bonsai Collection, Always be Propagating" www.bonsaify.c....
Here's a link to the basics bonsai scissors Eric uses in the video: www.bonsaify.c...
Eric uses Hormex #3 - here's a link if you want to purchase some (it's an affiliate link, so if you purchase, we receive a small percentage of the sale): www.amazon.com...
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[@Kwood10]

I just got one of these at my local nursery & I love the way these plants look!

[@TonysBonsai]

Superb information, thank you. The ground layering technique was really interesting too.

[@chompers11]

I love your channel

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers mate

[@bulebonsaibatam1758]

I do all my cuttings the same ways you have explained. I use a powder hormone and I generally get an 80% to 90 % success rate. For my larger cuttings I cover them with clear plastic bags to create a humidity tent and this seems to help.

[@Bonsaify]

That is awesome!

[@CasuallyUnorthodox]

Hi Eric, thanks for the information!. Inspired me to do a few cuttings of my own. Only been a week so far. I have a zip lock bag over the top of the pot im put them in. Monitoring the moisture daily they are also on bottom heat at night (its winter here in Aus atm). Also no hormone used. So fingers crossed i get something atleast. Cheers mate, Mitch

[@mattdemoraes]

Very helpful timing! Just about to take a whole raft of cuttings from my cotoneasters

[@shobhagupta2626]

Thank u sir for wonderful information

[@LTeppler]

Perfect explanations. Thanks :)

[@PaulMittermiller]

Thank you for all the great videos! How much coco coir do you mix with the perlite for your propagation mixture?

[@Bonsaify]

About 30% by volume. But, you can use up to 50% if you prefer. More than that and it starts to lose the structure that perlite creates and that maintains aeration.

[@Rudygolightly]

Hello, recently found your channel and I want to thank you for all the great information. Can we get an update on your cuttings?

[@Bonsaify]

Ha, a few for sale on bonsaify.com (as potted small bonsai). Otherwise, I have a lot in grow pots that are from the same source as these. They only take a few weeks to root, and then they grow like crazy!

[@mhylton]

Eric, very timely post as I took some Cotoneaster cutting from a neighbor's yard and stuck them in soil. Will they root without rooting hormone? And if so, how long before I know that they are putting out roots? Thanks in advance. Michael

[@Bonsaify]

Michael, in a greenhouse under mist they root in 2-3 weeks. I just yank a happy looking one out to check and confirm. I would suspect they will root without hormone but it may be a bit slower. Keep in mind that larger cuttings are not as easy.

[@sukantaghose]

Hello Michael if you don't have rooting hormone handy you can use Aloe Vera gel from your Aloe Vera plants they are natural root hormones and boost root growth

[@ilyasguner2267]

Did they root? Imma do the same!

[@alexrublinetsky]

Thank you. What time of the year is the best for propagating cotoneaster cuttings?

[@devanmccarty1625]

I had the same question.

[@DnHVid]

I was thinking of propagating from a big cotoneaster in the flowerbed on my street. Thank you for this video! It is early September, do you think I can still take cuttings? Air layer or ground layer would be best in late Spring after the first push of growth is hardening off, right?

[@Bonsaify]

Cuttings are pretty easy if you can keep them warm for a while after you take them. Layers would be better in spring, yes.

[@ChrisInScotland]

when you say dark place, do you mean like out of the sun or in a cupboard? I've tied to root some wisteria, grape vine and acer cuttings and always kept them in a bright room indoors, plenty of humidity but bright, and nothing happened. Would keeping them in a warm dark cupboard work better?

[@Bonsaify]

Hmm. I think most propagation manuals for woody plants say that shaded, no direct sun, and high humidity are keys. Total darkness can work, but you'll have to be very careful about timing taking them out. I'd say try your scenario again, but wrap them in plastic, or use a humidity dome. Acer cuttings are definitely harder than cotoneaster. (never done grape or wisteria myself)

[@arcanayssa]

Hi! Try to put somewhere on north and cover with a plastic bottle.

[@lorigraham2496]

I'm so lucky. The mother plants in my yard puts out baby plants I just have to dig up.

[@charlottesedita3136]

How to overwinter in zone 6 Thanks

[@jc-wx3sm]

Brief as possible: took about 50 cotoneaster cuttings 1 y/o growth. spring leaves hardening off and beginning to push flower buds (removed). Used your propagation soil suggestion in a covered propagation tray. used bottom heat and misted. less than a month the leaves turned brown and the twigs shriveled. I have never been able to root anything besides forsythia and willow. Why am I such a failure?

[@Bonsaify]

YOU are not a failure. Your plants are just not rooting. Failing is a good way to teach yourself how not to do something. I'd try hardwood - so a bit older branch, make sure to use a hormone (2000ppm IBA) sterilize your tray and dome/cover, then use sterile soil or pre-treat the soil with a fungicide. Dirr says June-July-August is the timeframe, but I think now is fine (May.) One other thing - make sure you're using good water - they are salt sensitive. You can also try peat/sand or peat/perlite/sand. Put the covered tray in 100% shade - e.g. medium light is fine but no direct sunlight. In a greenhouse operation we use a combination of mist (electronic leaf system ) and diffused light.

[@chompers11]

Only tip not nodal or mallet cuttings? How early in spring can I start these? I'm past bud burst and feeling tempted to prune these down in my yard and propagate them

[@Bonsaify]

You can use new growth for cuttings, just pick a shoot and cut off about 6-8 inches, strip the leaves at the base, dip in hormone and stick. keep them in a very moist environment, like under a mister, or tented inside plastic.

[@chompers11]

@@Bonsaify I make little wooden and plastic with bamboo frames for them. The way these grow back after the deer went after them last year makes me feel decent about my chances. It's a cotoneaster delsiana though so not necessarily the best choice but a pretty one haha

[@williamscott791]

Cotoneaster microphyllus that you have shown in a would it grow in texas

[@Bonsaify]

It might. They can be finicky - so down to your skills as a grower.

[@jamesancilleri3694]

This perlite looks very Bing is that what you use for the bonsai

[@Bonsaify]

At the moment, I do not use perlite for older trees.

[@kino410]

We put them in dark place!?! If we put them in a probagatur and with horticulture lights on them..it’s not good??

[@Bonsaify]

Light levels should be akin to shade - so not dark, just not direct sunlight levels. Try 30-40% of sun intensity.

[@kino410]

Which kind of cotoneaster is it?

[@Bonsaify]

C. microphyllus. Aka "Rockspray" I believe....but not sure on the common name.

[@bonsaitechnique5393]

Helo you