How to Root Pyracantha Cuttings
Pyracantha, also known as firethorn, is an evergreen shrub with small, white flowers that blossom in the spring. Those tiny flowers then turn into bright orange or red berries that adorn the landscape during the fall and winter. One method to propagate a pyracantha is by taking a cutting, ideally from a semi-hardwood stem. When planted, this cutting forms roots and grows into its own plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden clippers
- Rooting hormone
- Planting pot
- Peat
- Vermiculite or sand
- Spray bottle
Instructions
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Wait for your pyracantha to complete a growth spurt, usually between mid-summer and early fall. The wood at this time is considered semi-hard.
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2
Take your pyracantha cutting in the morning when it is well-hydrated. Carry a plastic bag with cool, wet paper towels in it to keep the cuttings cool.
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Cut a 4- to 6-inch tip from a healthy pyracantha stem. Make a sharp cut with pruning shears, a knife or hand clippers.
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Strip the leaves off the bottom 1/3 of the pyracantha cutting. Place a rooting hormone in a separate container, and dip the bottom 1/3 of the stem in it. Tap the stem to remove the excess powder. Discard the rooting hormone that is left in the container rather than putting it back in the original container, since the stem could have been diseased.
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5
Plant the bottom 1/3 of the pyracantha cutting upright in a 4-inch planting pot filled with 1 part peat and 1 part vermiculite or sand. Water it so the medium is moist.
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Place the pyracantha cutting in a bright area, but out of direct sunlight. Keep the soil moist, and mist the cutting every day. By spring, the pyracantha should be well rooted and ready for transplantation outdoors.
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