I have a mature Sambucus Nigra in my garden and I want to take some cuttings of it, is it too late? If it's not too late, how do actually propagate an Elder?
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. Propagate by seed sown in the open ground or containers in the autumn
The birds in my garden are very good at it - I'm forever having to pull them out Mature stems are hollow, so not good cutting material, you could have a go with a young piece with new wood and see what happens, nothing to lose, they aren't the sort of thing that's killed easily and they grow fast
I have taken young softwood cuttings from my sambucus and found they rooted easily and grew quickly. I did it in about June, I think, when growth was active.
I have just given one of my cuttings a tug in the pot and two of them hadn't rooted but the third one has!! I'm so excited, this is my very first propagation of a plant.....but now I'm unsure what to do. Do I leave it in the pot with the bag sealed over it, do I take the bag off but leave it in the pot or do I repot it altogether? I don't want to mess up my first success!!!
Loosen the bag for a day or so, to let the plant adjust, and then take it off. Once it's rooted there'll be no stopping it! Let the roits get well established before moving it on, either to a bigger pot or to open ground.
ive taken some cuttings and haven't put bags over them, i have them in a sandy mix and am misting them a couple of times a day, so will be interesting to see if they take, they are indoors btw.
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from the rhs website
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. Propagate by seed sown in the open ground or containers in the autumn
roy
The birds in my garden are very good at it - I'm forever having to pull them out
Mature stems are hollow, so not good cutting material, you could have a go with a young piece with new wood and see what happens, nothing to lose, they aren't the sort of thing that's killed easily and they grow fast
I have taken young softwood cuttings from my sambucus and found they rooted easily and grew quickly. I did it in about June, I think, when growth was active.
I have just given one of my cuttings a tug in the pot and two of them hadn't rooted but the third one has!! I'm so excited, this is my very first propagation of a plant.....but now I'm unsure what to do. Do I leave it in the pot with the bag sealed over it, do I take the bag off but leave it in the pot or do I repot it altogether? I don't want to mess up my first success!!!
Loosen the bag for a day or so, to let the plant adjust, and then take it off. Once it's rooted there'll be no stopping it! Let the roits get well established before moving it on, either to a bigger pot or to open ground.
Thank you both so much for your good advice!!
Very much appreciated.
ive taken some cuttings and haven't put bags over them, i have them in a sandy mix and am misting them a couple of times a day, so will be interesting to see if they take, they are indoors btw.