Grow from hardwood cuttings
CandideZA
Hardwood cuttings are taken from deciduous trees and plants (ones that lose their leaves in winter) when they are dormant between April and October. Hardwood cuttings are taken from well-ripened wood, and growth is made directly from buds that are dormant when the cutting is taken - the buds are usually visible. Unripened cuttings of this type will not propagate successfully and the best cuttings are made from the middle wood of the long shoot. Cuttings can take anything from 5 - 12 months or longer to take root and shoot be planted out in late autumn or winter.
1. Gather your gear
You will need the following:
- Secateurs
- Hormone powder Nr. 3
- Fig tree
- Terracotta Pot
- Light and airy soil mixture
- Pencil and plant marker
2. Prepare your cutting 1
It is important to note that hardwood cuttings should be taken much longer than herbaceous cuttings as they take more time to develop roots and therefore need to use the reserves of food stored in the cutting to keep them alive through winter; 20 - 30 cm. Trim your cutting by removing all leaves above the visible bud
3. Apply hormone powder
User hormone powder nr.3 for hardwood cuttings. Firstly wet the wounded bottom area and then dip it into the dry hormone powder a it to stick to the cutting.
*Tip: Add a little bit of hormone powder in the cap of the hormone powder container in order to refrain from getting water in the trees container as well as avoid unnecessary contamination.