Why do you need to learn how to propagate Junipers from cuttings rather than from the seeds they produce? Well, Juniper seeds have a dormancy requirement; if planted, it will take 2 years to grow - they require a warm period, then cold period, then warm & cold again. Using cuttings is not only faster; it provides uniformity in color and texture because you're cloning plants whose qualities you're already familiar with. In this video, Eric walks through the propagation process step-by-step. He references Dirr's "The Reference Manual of Wood Plant Propagation" as a great encyclopedic reference. ( amzn.to/3ExeteC )
00:02:57 One challenge is finding the material to take the cuttings from. Eric shows examples of the type of growth that is useful for propagation.
00:05:42 Cut off small 3" branches and make small cuttings with 3/4" stem to stick into the soil. Eric explains the difference in growth (speed and vigor) between cuttings from a less healthy "mother" plant and a very healthy one.
00:07:53 The ideal scenario is to start with a cutting 3-4" long with a 1" stem that is about the size of a matchstick, and definitely no wider than a pencil.
00:09:01 A few examples of strong and weaker cuttings.
00:11:29 "Heel cutting" is using a side shoot. This only roots well when the cutting is relatively young. You can cut a long healthy stem into an upper and lower section for 2 cuttings.
00:12:56 Process of sticking cuttings. Do you need a grafting knife or can you use sharp scissors? Eric has found that the difference in "take" rate is neglible for small cuttings, so having a nice sharp pair of scissors should be sufficient.
00:14:37 Rooting hormone is a synthetic product that is derived from a natural hormone in plants. Eric uses Hormex #3 and #8 and explains that the difference is in concentration, because some plants burn if it's too high and others don't react if it's too low. For Junipers, Eric uses #8.
00:15:43 Liquid vs Powder? Eric using powder because after dipping and sticking the cuttings in the media, powder enables more time for the hormone to take action.
00:16:08 Before sticking, Eric recommends dipping cuttings with fungicide (zerotol).
00:16:35 The soil Eric uses is 80% perlite, 20% coco coir. He stacks cuttings in as close together as possible in the container, and explains that you can generally use any container except mesh-sided because that has a tendency to dry out too quickly. His preferred container is a 17" Anderson propagation flat which has a mesh bottom.
00:17:57 Aftercare; Eric propagates in the fall (we're in Northern CA) and leaves the container outside in a shady area for a few months, on top of a seedling heat mat. Heat on the bottom of the container warms the soil, which stimulates root growth.
00:19:33 Water - cool moist but not too frequent misting for Junipers.
00:20:12 Eric pulls apart a flat of cuttings from last year, separating them into three piles. The bigger cuttings have 3-4 times more roots and growth than the smaller cuttings.
Thank you for watching! What experiences have you had propagating Junipers through cuttings? Let us know in the comments below. Please like and share this video; and subscribe to our channel!
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12 июл 2024
