Propagate Plants Like a Pro (Part 3) | Rooting the Cuttings of English Laurel

Learn how to propagate plants like a pro with this simple to build plant propagation frame that is perfect for rooting softwood cuttings and some semi-hardwood cuttings. This Nearing frame is a huge step up from the plastic totes and bins that we've been using and your success rate will go through the roof with this propagation frame.
In this video we'll show the results of the cuttings of English Laurel and take a look at how well they rooted in the propagation frame. I'll talk about the need for increased air flow and heat escape.
Go to the Website: propagateplant...
Check out my Wife's Channel: bit.ly/3hfX8fk
Products I Use Frequently:
Hormodin #3 Rooting Powder: amzn.to/3n5F9tS
Clonex Rooting Gel: amzn.to/37WqhJF
Dip N Grow Rooting Liquid: amzn.to/2WXIU9Q
Corona Shears: amzn.to/2WUS2Mt
Leaf Trimming Shears: amzn.to/38KrVxt
Orchard Lopper: amzn.to/2Jt5pAo
Propagation Tote: amzn.to/34WIdlB
Propagation Dome and Heat Mat Combo: amzn.to/37WqHQf
Indoor Grow Light: amzn.to/2WSxJiT
Grow Tent: amzn.to/37X01Pj
Instagram: / mike.kincaid
Propagation Group: / 346884795717132
Facebook: / kincaidsnursery
Twitter: / kincaidmj

[@MikeKincaid79]

Part 3 is here and in this video we get to see the rooted cuttings results!

[@prasun7524]

Sir, I don't have the exact rooting hormone u are using. Can i use others? Is more the better

[@MikeKincaid79]

Any rooting hormone should work. It's more important that you're taking care of the cuttings correctly and this frame does it.

[@prasun7524]

@@MikeKincaid79 thankyou sir ... 😊😊Will keep that in mind 🤗

[@cathiel4819]

I can't find the membership area. Love the videos...

[@MikeKincaid79]

Here's the link to the website: propagateplantslikeapro.com

[@robertdurkin7596]

Your part 1,2 &3 are great, Beautiful green plants to growing up, success ! Oh I'll watch your part 4 tomorrow !😁😁👋🌿🌿

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Mike I absolutely can't wait to start propagating my shrubs this coming year... your enthusiasm is positively contagious!!!

[@deanbritt9131]

I'm in Australia he said he takes his cuttings in July is that your winter

[@MikeKincaid79]

Margie Schaecher Thanks, I'm pretty excited too. After the holidays I always get happier because I know there's nothing between me and rhododendron blooms.

[@camicri4263]

@@deanbritt9131 July is middle of the summer here in US. For you guys is winter. So for you would be December - January to propagate.

[@loganryan_music]

How do you do this in a greenhouse in July!? Much different climate than Texas that’s for sure. Does this box receive direct sun?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I think we're in the same zone as parts of Texas, zone 8b. This is inside a shade house and I put a piece of plywood behind the frame to shade from direct sun. I explained all of this in the video series, lol

[@madelinerivers4603]

Can't wait for part 4!!!!!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Me too!

[@midsouthhomestead9180]

Great series.

[@grahamallen3941]

Another great success Mike, super! As for the seeds from my acers, not a single one. I do have around 35 acers in my garden but there are no seeds on any of them. I spoke to a guy at the garden centre and he said none of their acers have had any seeds!! I might just have to come over to the US!! Regards Graham 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@MikeKincaid79]

If you make it this far, you can pick the seeds off my trees, haha.

[@camicri4263]

Maybe they are hybrid rather than the real deal? Or maybe sterile so they don't take over a small yard. ...I don't know, just a thought!

[@grahamallen3941]

Camelia Cristofaro hi, the information from the company which I got this morning is the acers are all sterile! Really annoyed as there was nil information about them being sterile. Will now try and find somewhere where I can get some viable seed!! Regards

[@camicri4263]

@@grahamallen3941 oh my goodness, so sorry! I had a feeling. I only have 3/4 of an acre and a huge part is the septic tank....annoying I can't plant anything over the septic tank and is over 100 feet long by 25'. We had a mimosa tree and it was dropping 100s of seeds. When I lived in California, mimosa tree was dropping seeds but because was dry, we didn't have an issue but in Atlanta. ....it's crazy. I would have a forest in no time. I want fruit trees not mimosa trees. I am sure you can find it somewhere. Maybe Mike can send you a bag of seeds from his tree.

[@grahamallen3941]

Camelia Cristofaro think I’m going to do what I did last year. I had success with air layering on two of my acers so I have three more that I can Air layer next spring. That’s tough you losing all that space for the septic tank. Good luck. Graham 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@viviangerard459]

nice job with the cutting you are so good

[@markwalker9107]

Good video

[@haribo666adler]

Great video! I’m gonna try it to propagate some blueberries this way, hopefully it’ll work... But I’ve got to wait for next summer because here in Europe is winter time.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yeah, it's winter for us too right now. This frame will work great for blueberries.

[@viviangerard459]

wow big roots I notice around my area they planted a laurel hedge around there fields of blue berries and have they growin

[@MikeKincaid79]

They make a great windbreak.

[@carminepetracca7518]

jumpin beans mike, what growth you have with the laurels. you'll have your green fence going in no time. amazing root growth. i thought i saw some new growth buds on a few plants. man, you're excited. what happened to johnny? he didn't crow at all in the video. must be the weather.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Johnny gets seasonal affective disorder, haha.

[@carminepetracca7518]

that's so funny mike... cp.

[@camicri4263]

Carmine, Johnny crowed once but it was not laud......lol

[@camicri4263]

@@MikeKincaid79 hahaha Mike. I think you locked him up....😉😂😂😂

[@carminepetracca7518]

camelia, i didn't even hear him. thanks for the reply. i'll keep my ears open next time. carmine.

[@Felicitycos827]

hi May I know how many days The Cutting is going to keep in the water before planting

[@abordercollie1]

Thank you !!!

[@MikeKincaid79]

You're welcome!

[@camicri4263]

Mike, you didn't have to rinse it, even I could see the roots! That's so awesome! Great job! Thanks for letting Johnny speak for me😂😃 Hugs from Atlanta! Did you put your Christmas tree up yet?

[@deanbritt9131]

Camelia Cristofaro thanks for the reply how cool

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yep, just got our Christmas tree up. Went out with my wife and kids to a live tree farm and cut one down. It's fun watching my kids excitement, reminds me of being a kid and doing the same

[@deanbritt9131]

Mike Kincaid I do thousands of cuttings each year. Do you use much perlite.

[@camicri4263]

@@MikeKincaid79 that is so awesome! I would love that! I still get as excited as when I was a kid. ...lol. I wanted a real tree but paying almost $100 to throw it away in a month. .....I can't do that. Eventually I will plant one in the front of the house and one in the back and as long as they will remain manageable I will decorate them. But for right now an artificial one will have to do. So cool to see kids excited and laughing. ....nothing better. Hugs!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Dean Britt, I don't use perlite. I've done experiments with it in the past but once I settled on my fine fir bark I was sold.

[@curly-hairedcountrygal1275]

Hey again! I commented on another part of this series... helpful, thank you! Besides wondering if I'll need a greenhouse, Can you map out the timeline? When to cut, plant, transfer?

[@MikeKincaid79]

You don't need a greenhouse. These root in about 6 weeks but I leave them in the frame all summer, winter, and finally pot up the following spring.

[@aaron6841]

Hi Mike do you change out the soil in the prooergation bed ? Thanks

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, after I do a "batch" of cuttings, I use new fir bark for the next project. The old bark gets re-purposed as potting soil. Nothing goes to waste.

[@anthonysinclair5721]

Hi Mike , I just checked my cuttings and they look pretty much like yours. Now do I put them in one gallon pots and keep them inside until they get a few leaves growing and then plant them in the ground in a few months? thanks 😎

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, that will work. You can actually plant them in the ground sooner than that if it's not too cold in your area.

[@anthonysinclair5721]

@@MikeKincaid79 Thanks for the info Mike and the lightning fast response! 😎🌳

[@vernonholt4327]

Hello Mike, thank you for these videos.....i have today built my first frame as you suggested and have used coarse sand. Once the roots start to show, should i put the cuttings intp compost? Sand can't have much goodness in it can it? Thank you very much, Vernon

[@MikeKincaid79]

yes, once they root fully, you'll need to move them into compost or potting soil and fertilize.

[@vernonholt4327]

Thanks Mike

[@chrisashley2088]

Hey Mike I love your videos. When it comes to plants your my go to guy. I'm going to build one of your propagation box's to root some azaleas. Wanted to know if I could place the box in my utility room and use a grow light to root them?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, you can definitely use grow lights to root them.

[@arronl3398]

Awesome video and how much humidity do you want to keep in the box?? 85 or 95 prevent?? Thanks 👍 great video and box 😊

[@MikeKincaid79]

I don't measure it exactly but as long as you have moisture building up under the lid, you're good to go.

[@sohailaslammbe]

In England, can we plant these cuttings in winter ? If so then are there any precautions pls ?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I'm sure they'd root as hardwood cuttings through the winter. No precautions, just have to warm up the root zone to get them rooting.

[@jordanwashney2913]

Hey Mike, I was hoping you could do a video on propagating conifers, when and how. Can you propagate them in the winter since they are evergreens? Really hoping to get some insight.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Winter is a great time to propagate them. Some root easier than others. I did some videos on Green Giant Arborvitae and they rooted well in the late winter/early spring. Some people like to take them in the early winter. I don't think it matters much as long as they're dormant and taken as hardwood cuttings.

[@jordanwashney2913]

@@MikeKincaid79 thanks so much I really appreciate it. Really love what you're doing out there.

[@doctorhousemd566]

The success rate is wonderful One question xD can I use power sand the very clean powers sand like on river banks ?

[@doctorhousemd566]

Also I'm trying to root blue berry cuttings r they pretty difficult? Thanks!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes

[@MikeKincaid79]

Got a video about blueberries too.

[@CraganAnFhithich]

Hi Mike, someone may have already asked this question but would you recommend just sticking the cuttings into the ground directly rather than using your box system? If so, when do you think is a good time to take cuttings? Thanks so much.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, you can stick certain cuttings directly in the ground at certain times of the year. You may be able to do that with hardwood cuttings of laurel. If I were to do something like that, I'd do it in the late winter before the plants new growth begins.

[@CraganAnFhithich]

@@MikeKincaid79 thank you! I shall try. Otherwise the box makes perfect sense. Take care, and thanks for the videos.

[@redwood1957]

did you plant these on your prooperty and how are they now thank you

[@MikeKincaid79]

Not yet, they are still in the hoop house.

[@redwood1957]

@@MikeKincaid79 what size pots?

[@misssutherby1027]

Amazing.! Thank you! You have inspired me to take laurel cuttings to propagate. If I don't have any rooting powder will it still work?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, but you'll get a higher percentage of them to root with hormone.

[@misssutherby1027]

@@MikeKincaid79 Thank you Mike. Ive found some rooting hormone, diped the laurel cuttings in water then powder, then in compost. How long will take till they root? Warmest regards

[@lepidlover0557]

I've seen that there are natural rooting hormones you can get like honey and cinnamon 🙂

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I would love to try an experiment rooting cuttings in an aquarium. Since the aquarium would have consistent oxygen, Would be an exciting science project 🙃

[@MikeKincaid79]

I did this with a pothos cutting and it worked fantastic. I have it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipbTinWGeq-dl9E

[@kestane123chesmo]

genius

[@adamgould1370]

Hi Mike, When I've tried following your method the leaves have turned brown reasonably quickly (1-2) days. I was wondering if I could get your advice on what this is likely to be? Perhaps not a shady enough spot? Also I presume if the leaves going completely brown its worth just setting new ones up again rather than waiting?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, just start new ones. Perfect time to do it too. I'm just about to set up a bed for my english laurel as well. They are probably turning brown due to too much heat/sun. Place them where they will get plenty of overhead sky light but absolutely no direct sun ever touches the glass or plastic. You don't want to create an oven.

[@brendabradley6215]

Can you reuse the rooting material over again?

[@MikeKincaid79]

It's best to have fresh medium for rooting but what I do is to use fresh medium, root the cuttings, and then use the same medium to pot them up into pots after they've rooted so nothing goes to waste. If you use sand for rooting then you can just clean up any dead leaves and pour a mixture of 10% bleach water over the sand to cut down on fungus and bacteria in between cuttings.

[@explorabee]

Hi Mike! A bit late to the comments here, but as a novice gardener who has just discovered your channel I have a question - by using bark (or sand) to root the cuttings would you not be depriving them of the nutrients that soil would give them? Or is that what the rooting hormone is for? I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for it, but I'd love it if you could elaborate further! Thanks :)

[@MikeKincaid79]

When they are cuttings without roots, there are no roots to take up nutrients. They cutting relies solely on the nutrition it has stored up in order to form roots and you'll see this in action as some plants leaves yellow a bit as they form roots. That's the plant using up it's nutrient supplies to form roots. Fertilizer on rooting cuttings would be wasted and would actually create an environment where fungus and mold would prefer to be. It's best to use material that has no measurable nutrients in it and then when the roots form, you can fertilize.

[@explorabee]

@@MikeKincaid79 I see, thanks so much for your answer!

[@testchannel1834]

Mike do you know if i can duplicate this same system for Clusia Rosea plant I want to grow a hedge also

[@MikeKincaid79]

You can root that plant directly in water. No need for a frame.

[@Kerrin77JIH]

Can you only root the tips of the laurels? So, if you lost a new, small limb, could you take several off that fresh limb and cut them into smaller pieces and root them?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, you can take many cuttings off of one branch.

[@frederikmllskovtrier4901]

Hi Mike. I am following you from Denmark and are wondering if I could copy this in my garden even if the temperatur goes below zero and we have snow during winter?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Absolutely. Our temps get to 12 degrees F some winters and we get snow as well. All the cuttings wake up and start growing in the spring. I have no heat on these particular cuttings and they've already frozen hard as a rock several times this winter. Come spring, they'll all be just fine. Thanks for following the videos!

[@frederikmllskovtrier4901]

@@MikeKincaid79 thanks for the answer! I will get to work

[@mikedupa5386]

Hi Mike I am planning on doing this in Reno, NV. We get really hot dry summers and snow in the winter. Would this work here? I was thinking about doing it my garage...I have a window that faces N.E. and was thinking about a plastic tub. I'm not sure if our weather here would allow me to do this outside ...thoughts ?

[@MikeKincaid79]

You can absolutely propagate plants in Nevada but make sure to place your tote or frame on the north side of the house to block the direct sun and keep things cooler.

[@mikedupa5386]

@@MikeKincaid79 THANKS!

[@madelynferez]

How big did these end up getting after being planted? I just planted some cuttings that we're about 6" and I am wondering how long until they get to a somewhat substantial height. Sweet video!

[@MikeKincaid79]

I still haven't planted them out and they are around 30 inches tall now. They will put on another 2 feet this summer. They grow really fast!

[@madelynferez]

That's crazy, thank you for the reply. I have high hopes!

[@dennism5565]

those roots look quite long for the short time in the soil. You live in a more temperate climate - is your hoop house heated in the winter? I doubt this technique would work well in Wisconsin, or am I wrong?

[@MikeKincaid79]

No heat in the hoop house and yes, this will work great in Wisconsin.

[@resp9721]

Could I use Plexiglas instead of glass or clear plastic

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes

[@OrionStar1]

How can you tell if they are starting to make roots?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Trust them

[@agyire231]

Dude did you add some more cuttings? That planter was 3/4 full in part 2.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I did. After making that video, I ran out of material and went back to get more cuttings. Just wanted to utilize all the space.

[@arunseigell7361]

Look up Woodbury Rhodis of New Zealand for inspiration.Do U grow the scented COTTON CANDY?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I don't have Cotton Candy but I have a few similar varieties in color. I love New Zealand rhododendrons and would love to visit someday. I've tried to get them to ship rhodys to me but they won't for some international plant related reason.

[@keithbaumgardner1603]

I tried to do green giants last two years and only got one. How would you recommend doing them and what time of year?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Did you see my videos on propagating green giants? I made one last spring.

[@jamesweh209]

The tree that I've mentioned to you that I want to propagate, boldus peumus, or boldo, is related to the laurels, both belonging to the family Monimiaceae. However, boldo is particularly suited to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Its leaves are drier than those of laurel and have a fuzzy surface and is drought tolerant. They do well in drier conditions than the laurel. At the arboretum, those cuttings that were left out in the open air did better than those under the misters. Therefore, the bottom heat with minimal greenery is probably the best way to go with boldo propagation. I'm going to experiment with cutting the green parts to the bare minimum, keeping the tops cool in buffered light, and the bottoms warm until I see the hopeful signs of rooting through the plastic cups. That will be a dream come true!

[@MikeKincaid79]

If they're as close to laurel as you say then you should have no problem propagating them!

[@jamesweh209]

Mike: My research of the propagation of boldo cuttings indicates a success rate of only 15%, and that was the result of a scientific study in which they followed scientific propagation methods: bottom heating, humid conditions using nebulizers, pre-sterilization of the substrate medium, and initial and weekly treatment with the systemic fungicidal Dithane M-45 and Strepto plus. Twice a week it was sprayed with the foliar fertilizer Bayfolan 250 SL, which contains the macroelements N (11% p / v), P205 (8% p / v), P20 (6% p / v) and the microelements Fe, Mn , B, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Mo, Cl, Na, S, vitamin B1, auxins and substance tam-p6n. The study was performed at Catholic University in Maule, Chile, so these may be the names of Chilean products; The substrate used consisted of sawdust from Pinus radiata D. Don. To eliminate toxins and fungi, it was boiled in water, at least for half an hour. At the beginning of the test and subsequently on a monthly basis, the pH of the substrate was measured, which was maintained at an average value equal to 7.3. The temperature of the rooting beds was maintained with electric resistances placed at the base of them and regulated with a thermostat. The study showed that Boldo cuttings require an average of 6 months to propagate. It did not find a statistically significant benefit from application of rooting hormone, but of the various strengths tested, a concentration of 0.5% worked better than the higher concentrations. I've had my cuttings for 10 days now and it seems unlikely that they will survive long enough to grow roots. They began to wilt on the 8th day and have been losing leaves daily. My hopes have been subdued but I'm not giving up yet.

[@eddierogers8240]

Hey Mike, I am looking to propagate green giants here on Long Island, NY. I saw your other videos on hardwood cuttings but feel I am a little late since it is already May 9th. Could I use this method you are showing to do softwood cuttings of green giant from now till over the summer?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I hate to say it but I don't think you're going to have any luck with softwood cuttings of green giants but it may still be early enough to get some of that older wood and stick some cuttings this year.

[@arunseigell7361]

Look up cotton candy on google -there is an oregon.edu link

[@VladTheImpalerTepesIII]

I'm so confused because the dates on these videos are of late fall/early winter in the USA, but he keeps talking as if this is in the summer? Would be more helpful for newbs if the date of the actual video was divulged. Also, average temps where you are woul dbe good to know because this obviously is not going to work the same in ever climate.

[@sandy-rr1by]

if we want so much air, why not just leave it open?

[@MikeKincaid79]

You want a slight amount of air exchange not "so much" air. The lid needs to be closed to keep the humidity levels high, unless you have a mist system, then you don't need a lid.

[@viviangerard459]

look at all the money your saving

[@MikeKincaid79]

That's what started it for me but now it's also fun to sell them and make money too!

[@eddypowell5541]

I LOVE YOUR EXPLANATION BUT YOU MADE ME FEEL DIZZY WITH YOUR VIDEO.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I have that effect on people.