Rooting Arborvitae through Cuttings

[@DJDOUBLE077]

I never cover semi hard or hardwood cuttings...I struggled when cuttings were covered. I just place under shade cloth and mist. Success was much higher and consistent this way.

[@timh9578]

This is cool. Do you have an update on how they are doing?

[@jlynn9451]

Is it possible to set cutting now (March)? I’m in the Northeast.

[@yume816]

It’s little hard to follow for a novice. Can you list the steps? Thanks

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Maybe this will help. It goes to my website: growingthehomegarden.com/2019/10/propagating-arborvitae-from-cuttings.html

[@peterbrucker798]

I live in Ga and semi hardwood cuttings propagate best for me in the fall .

[@Growingthehomegarden]

That is basically when I do most of mine as well.

[@ryanfrankum3493]

Do i need to keep my cutting under the heat lamp to help it callus

[@Retro.M.C]

This cant be done with a bigger piece or branch?

[@crystalbraker8849]

I have tried multiple times with evergreen cuttings. I have not been successful yet. Any further tips?

[@myk1200s]

Hi Dave, Just curious so you don't dip the cuttings in rooting hormone ❓.... And as far as the cuttings do you leave them outside covered in the winter or bring them inside ❓... Do you use a mixture of pearlite and petmoss for your soil ❔... Thanks

[@Growingthehomegarden]

I do use rooting hormone most of the time. Sometimes it isn't needed but I would for arborvitae. What I've done recently is peat in the bottom of the container with sand on top. The peat seems to hold moisture well that way. I don't bring them indoors. I left some out this winter which may have backfired due to a flash freeze we had. Normally though outdoors in a sheltered location is just fine here in zone 7.

[@WeatherNut27]

Do you fertilize while its rooting say within the 1st year or 2?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

I don't ferrilize until after they have rooted. Once I pot them up they can be fertilized.

[@deliverancetothecaptivesja1191]

How long before moving cuttings to pots? And does it matter if they are dormant when you move them?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

The main thing at this stage is to disturb the roots as little as possible. I've been waiting lately until roots begin to show at the bottom of the pot but if you're careful you could do it at any stage.

[@raphlvlogs271]

do they need shady conditions to take root?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

The shade is more to prevent water loss and stress and isn't required for rooting. I've just found that the shade helps increase success with most cuttings. Cuttings left in the sun will need increased watering and misting.

[@philbrownred6500]

It's late April now in Georgia where I'm at, can I take cuttings from my established Thuga Green Giants now? If so, do I take softwood (the tips) or more of the hardwood?

[@grahamfam2615]

My arbors. are still very young (about 1.5 feet tall in their pots). Can I start taking cuttings from them or do they need to be more mature? When can I start taking cuttings from them?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

You should be able to take a couple here and there off of plants that size. I would go easy on them but you could do a couple from each plant if you have a good branch for a cutting.

[@grahamfam2615]

@@Growingthehomegarden thanks..is there anyway I could mess them up by doing so? I'd only take like one from each probably. I cant afford to mess them up. They were expensive lol. Thanks for answering!

[@Growingthehomegarden]

There is always a chance you could convey a disease between plants if one is present but if you use clean pruners for your cuts the odds are low. I think your plants will be just fine with just 1 cut per plant.

[@grahamfam2615]

@@Growingthehomegarden awesome..much appreciated 💕

[@ricardorodriguez8471]

Do you need to fertalize these at any stage? Once they are in the planter do they need fertalizer ?

[@lionolee5480]

I don’t think you need to. Only after it created roots you may want to fertilize it.

[@FestusHaggen1]

Do recommend a good store bought soil to start these in. Lowe's or Home Depot?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

There's a brand I like called Harvest Organic. They make a potting soil and garden soil. I've found it at Lowe's before but I have no clue if it's still available due to 2020 shortages and garden enthusiasm. 😃

[@thelostandunfounds]

I was going to try this but we are out of moist water at my house.

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Yeah, I know! Sometimes when on camera you don't really notice the dumb things you say accidentally. 😆

[@thelostandunfounds]

@@Growingthehomegarden haha! It's cool at least you can laugh about your mistakes!! Thanks for the valuable information!

[@grannypantsification]

My town had a run on moist water and toilet paper when the pandemic started. Dang hoarders!🤣😂 We need a good DIY video for making our own.

[@ericvandamme6913]

Can you root them without using rooting hormones?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

You probably can but I use it for them. Rooting hormone often has an antifungal agent in it that helps prevent fungal problems.

[@Jeff-ik3hn]

Did you use or do you recommend rooting hormone

[@Growingthehomegarden]

I do for arborvitae. It may not be necessary but I think it helps them root faster and more reliably. Some plants really don't need it but for evergreens I always use rooting hormone.

[@Jeff-ik3hn]

@@Growingthehomegarden thank you very much!

[@tsulaialado7817]

@@Jeff-ik3hn Which one are you using?

[@dhammon64]

What do you use as a medium to place your cuttings in?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

I've used a few different mediums over the years. Lately I've just been using an organic potting soil. Sand is a good one as well.

[@dhammon64]

@@Growingthehomegarden ... leaf mold compost work?

[@Growingthehomegarden]

It probably could work. The only issue could be disease vectors. Sand is generally sterile so that is why it works well but as long as you don't see signs of disease on your cuttings leaf mold compost that is well broken down could work fine.

[@Jane-xh6fv]

I haven’t had much success with propagating (my time and forgetting about them is the reason) but I use a mix of sand and peat moss. I happened to have both already and I like that the sand does not hold moisture much and the peat moss does. So it’s a good balance.

[@timepassgamer5779]

Arborvitea

[@googleaccountuser6976]

Lol moist water

[@googleaccountuser6976]

Great video thanks!

[@Growingthehomegarden]

Sometimes when videoing you don't realize what you are saying. Lol. But I'm not wrong, water is moist!