Juniper is a grateful tree that can be easily propagated from cuttings. However, you need a little patience until the shoots have developed new roots. This only works under constant conditions.
How to propagate juniper by cuttings?
Juniper can be propagated by cuttings by removing the leaves from woody shoots, making cuts on the lower side, placing them in sandy substrate or water and keeping them constantly moist and warm. The first roots usually form in autumn.
The cuttings are propagated in these steps:
- Deleafing
- Incising
- Set
- Rooting
Deleafing
Topiary cutting often produces good material for propagating cuttings. If you find woody shoots 20 centimeters long, you can use them as cuttings.
To keep water evaporation to a minimum, remove most of the green leaves and shoots. Due to the missing roots, the cutting is not yet able to absorb enough water to supply all parts of the plant. It would dry out too quickly before new roots emerge.
Incising
Cut the cutting lengthwise in the lower two thirds until the white cambium becomes visible under the bark. Peel off the bark in strips, making sure to leave some of the bark undamaged. This lower part of the cutting will later stand in water or substrate and absorb moisture. You can use a sharp knife for particularly woody cuttings. Softer shoots can be worked on with your fingernail.
Set
Place the prepared shoots in a sandy substrate or a glass of water. The scratched part should be completely surrounded by earth or water. The green shoots and leaves are free and are well ventilated to prevent rot.
Place the container in a warm and bright location where there is no direct sunlight. Once you have planted the cuttings in substrate, you need to ensure consistent watering and high humidity. The cuttings must not dry out.
Rooting
If you cut the cuttings in spring and kept them constantly moist, the first roots will develop next fall. Under unfavorable conditions, it can take two summers for the cuttings to root. Success is higher with younger shoots than with old wood. The cuttings provide perfect material for growing a bonsai. After two to three years, the young plants are planted out in the garden.