How to Grow a Plum Tree from a Branch

Propagation of fruit tress can be a simple endeavor if you have the proper tools and the patience. A favorite fruit tree or plum tree can be extended for generations and passed to family and friends. This method can actually be used for any tree regardless of the type but not a dwarf variety. As long as the tree bears fruit on the limb, you should grow something similar.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sharp knife
• Rooting hormone
• Sphagnum moss
• Potting Soil
• 2-gallon pots
• Plenty of water
• Tree fertilizer

1. Use a sharp knife to cut a branch that produced fruit during the past summer. Cut the branch at a diagonal. Be sure the cut is clean with no breaks along the circumference of the branch stem.

2. Dip the fresh cut into the rooting hormone. Do this immediately as soon as the cut is made. Do not wait even a minute as the hormone will be sucked into the wound as soon as applied if done quickly.

3. Place the branch into the pot and surround the branch with a good quality potting soil. Water the pot thoroughly keeping the soil wet for at least the first week.

4. Apply a good quality fertilizer to feed your tree once the roots have been established. This may be several weeks before the roots begin to take hold.

Tips & Warnings

• Wrap the branch with sphagnum moss first and then place it into the pot with soil. This can be an alternative if you are not good at keeping up with a good water schedule. The moss may raise the PH level but not by much.
• Rooting branches should be done while there are still plenty of warm days left in the year. You should not perform rooting in the fall as the tree is dormant. Plum trees will root right after a fruit harvest. In this way you can select good branches for the rooting process.

[GreenMomma]

on 9/16/2008 great advice!