Mullberry trees

[Angi]

I gave my mom a branch from my Fruitless Mullberry tree and it sprouted root. Can you grow a tree from a cutting? I am getting ready to move and the new (old but new to us) house does not have a fruitless mullberry tree, so I would like to start some if it would work.

 

[redbeef]

yes, this is commonly how mulberry are propagated: my fruiting mulberry was propagated from a cutting

 

[Angi]

That is good news and even better because my tree needs a trim. How should I do this? Should I just stick the branch in the ground, soak it or let it dry out....

 

[Tom]

I've tried to do this many times and failed every time. Got lessons from the nursery, bought the rooting hormone and every thing. I have not been able to make it work. Maybe CDMay knows. He works at a plant nursery. I'd love to know the trick.

 

[redbeef]

Yeah: best to check w/a qualified nurseryman...could be the time of year you take the cuttings as well as the type of rooting hormone and potting medium. I've never done it; i've just seen it at one of the nursery/avocado ranches where we have a remote field site

 

[ascott]

Materials:

Root Hormone (I used powdered)
Healthy cuttings from a tree of your choice
Local soil (I haven't tried vermiculite yet)
Large pot
White plastic trash bag

Step 1: Attain healthy cuttings from a healthy tree. Remember to always ask permission if you are taking cuttings from someone else's tree. Try to aim for 4-8" cuttings for small trees (such as dwarf fruit trees), and 10-15" cuttings for large trees (such as oaks). Smaller trees will root faster. Try to cut cuttings off of the tree at 45 degree angles.

Step 2: Fill the pot up with soil, and moisten the soil with a sprayer. Create 8" deep holes in the soil for the cuttings. I would recommend no more than four cuttings in a pot with a top diameter of 14".

Step 3: Remove the bark off of the bottom 1/3 of the cutting. Put the bark-less part of the cutting into a glass of water for five minutes. Then, dip the bark-less part of the cutting into the rooting hormone, and GENTLY place it into the already-prepared hole. Try to space the cuttings evenly, and not too close.

Step 4: Gently firm the soil around the cuttings, and mist them. Then, place the pot in the white, plastic bag, and tie the top. I found it works well to gently mist the inside of the plastic bag, as well. Place the pot in place OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT. You may think you need sunlight to root the cuttings, but the sun will dry up the soil. The cuttings do not need to be in a completely dark place, but a medium between bright and dark would be nice.

Step 5: Mist the cuttings EVERY OTHER DAY unless the soil is visibly dry (you can tell this because the soil will crack when dry). Also, try not to water too much, because the cuttings will rot. Although it is tempting, do not remove the cuttings to check on them. Actually, don't look at them at all for the first two weeks (except when watering). Don't worry, they will let you know when their ready. After about a month, smaller trees will begin to grow small leaves and shoots.

It would be best to wait until the trees are big enough to survive the elements before you transplant them. So, in essence, don't put them outside at first sign of growth. Wait about three months after the first sign of growth to do this.

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note; forgot to mention, in the excerpt that I attached here, when reference "I" it is not me....lol....although I have done this once and it worked I did not want anyone to think I came up with this brilliant yet simple process.....

 

[Jacqui]

I know Larry (Itort) has done this before, if my memory is working correctly. If I recall correctly too, you need the new growth and perhaps spring time is best?

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I went back and checked, at the time this is what he had said:

" So I took some of the smaller branchs and transplanted them into twelve inch pots to see if I could get starts. So far the branchs from this years growth are apparently dead but the two and three year branches (2" to 3" thick) have rooted and fully leaved."

Wonder how they ended up doing for him.