Vinegar trees are robust plants that spread rapidly throughout the garden. If targeted propagation is desired, this can be done in two ways.
How to propagate a vinegar tree?
A vinegar tree can be propagated through cuttings and root cuttings. Cut two-year-old shoots or root runners, divide them into 15 cm long sections and plant them in a sandy-coconut-fibrous substrate. Make sure there are enough leaf nodes and a cool growing environment.
The following are suitable for propagation:
- Cuttings
- Root cuttings
Cuttings
The two-year-old shoots of the vinegar tree are ideal for propagation by cuttings. Cut off the shoots in winter and remove the shoot tip. You then divide the shoot into cuttings that are about 15 centimeters long. The number of leaf nodes is important. Each cutting needs at least two nodes so that it can sprout later. The more knots, the better.
Cut the lower end of the cuttings at an angle. Trim the upper end of the cutting with a straight cut. The cuttings are placed in a plant pot (€16.00 on Amazon) that has been filled with a mixture of sandy soil and coconut fibers. The cutting should be halfway in the substrate. It needs a bright and cool place to grow and sprout. The optimal temperature is six to twelve degrees Celsius. The substrate must be kept continuously moist.
The cuttings will have developed roots by spring. In summer you can plant the young plants in the desired location. Cultivation in a bucket is ideal, as the vinegar tree spreads uncontrollably outdoors. Vinegar trees love a sunny location, but also thrive in partial shade.
Root cuttings
On a frost-free winter day, you can cut off small parts of the root runners. Roots that are one centimeter thick are ideal. Divide the sections into cuttings five to ten centimeters long. Only cut off enough so that the mother plant still retains two thirds of its roots.
The root pieces, like the cuttings, are cut straight at the top and diagonally at the bottom. Each cutting is placed individually in a pot so that it is completely surrounded by the substrate. The same mixture that is used for propagating cuttings is suitable as a planting substrate.
Cover the substrate with a thin layer of gravel. Place the plant pot in a cool place and water the cutting sparingly. In the spring the place is moved outdoors. Cuttings can be planted out in late summer and fall. The trees are undemanding to the substrate.
