If the vinegar tree has become too old and has lost its beauty over the years, it can be rejuvenated using offshoots. Some preliminary considerations are necessary so that the wood does not become a pest.
How do you grow cuttings from the vinegar tree?
To grow a vinegar tree offshoot, cut off a 15 cm long shoot with at least two nodes in winter. Place half of it in a planter with a moist sand-soil-coconut fiber mixture. In a cool and bright place, the cutting will grow roots and can be transplanted in summer.
Propagation by cuttings
Taking cuttings is a form of offshoot propagation. The ideal time to take cuttings is winter. Cut the shoots diagonally. Make sure that the shoot is at least 15 centimeters long and has at least two nodes so that it can develop leaves after root development.
Place the cutting in a planter that has been filled with a mixture of sand, soil and coconut fiber (€14.00 on Amazon). The offshoot should sit halfway in the substrate. The offshoots are stimulated to form roots in the permanently moist soil. A bright and cool place with temperatures between six and twelve degrees Celsius is ideal.
Cultivating young plants
It takes several months for the cutting to develop roots. The following summer the young plants are ready for transplanting. The vinegar tree is suitable for planting in containers. Choose a planter with a volume of ten liters. Repotting into a larger container is necessary approximately every two years. In the pot, the bushes grow between two and three meters high.
When planting outdoors, make sure there is a root barrier so that the vinegar tree does not grow uncontrollably in the garden. Pond liner is not suitable because the strong roots drill holes in the material and grow through it. A stone container sunk into the ground or a rain barrel without a bottom prevents the roots from crawling through the ground.
What you should consider:
- Vinegar trees develop a shallow root system
- Root system can reach a radius of ten meters
- Roots form uncontrolled shoots
- Rhus typhina is considered an invasive species
Location requirements
Vinegar trees are undemanding. They love a sunny location and also thrive in partial shade. The soil can be nutrient-rich or nutrient-poor. The shrubs react sensitively to waterlogging, which is why they prefer sandy soil with permeable properties. Vinegar trees are less able to adapt to different pH values. You need soil that is low in lime.
