Softwood plant Propagation workshop at Ginny Levy’s house
Instructions for cuttings:
1. Make sure the shrub/tree is well watered the day before taking cuttings
2. You want softwood cuttings. Take cuttings back to, but not into, woody stem.
3. When possible, take cutting from non-flowering stem.
4. Keep cuttings moist, either in a plastic bag with a wet paper towel or in a basin with the cuttings covered in wet paper towels.
5. You will need snips or better yet a small knife.
6. If you have small (2" – 4”) pots or market packs you should bleach them in a weak bleach solution. Cleanliness is the key to success.
Below you will find a list of plants that propagate fairly easily. IF you have any of these in your garden, please bring some branches to share:
Hydrangeas are almost always successful, and a great way to begin
Crape myrtle
Beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica)
Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
Blue mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis)
Chinese stranvaesia (Stranvaesia davidiana)agerstroemia indica)
Daphne (Daphne caucasica)
Deciduous azaleas (Rhododendron cvs.)
Elders (Sambucus spp.)
Enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus)
Forsythias (Forsythia spp.)
Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.)
Japanese maples (Acer palmatum cvs.)
Kerria (Kerria japonica)
Large fothergilla (Fothergilla major)
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Magnolias (Magnolia spp.)
Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Redtwig dogwood (Cornus alba and sericea)
Rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa)
Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.)
Slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis)
Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria)
Spireas (Spiraea spp.)
Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia)
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
Viburnums (Viburnum x burkwoodii and carlesii)
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Weigelas (Weigela spp.)
Willows (Salix spp.)
Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Winter hazels (Corylopsis spp.)
Witch hazels (Hamamelis spp.)
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) No no's
Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) Only if it's one of the new sterile cultivars