Red twig dogwood is a deciduous shrub that belongs to the family of cornaceae. It produces bright red stems during the winter, which gives it an attractive appearance in gardens and landscapes. Propagating this plant is easy and straightforward, but you need to follow specific steps to increase your chances of success. In this post, we will discuss how to propagate red twig dogwood.
Propagation by Cuttings
One of the easiest ways to propagate red twig dogwood is through cuttings. This method involves taking a stem from a healthy mother plant and planting it in soil or water until it roots.
Step 1: Choose Your Cutting
Select a healthy branch from your mother plant that’s at least six inches long with multiple nodes on it. Nodes are where leaves grow out on the stem.
Step 2: Prepare Your Cutting
Using sharp scissors or pruners, make a clean cut just below one node and another clean cut above another node about six inches up from the first cut location.
Step 3: Remove Lower Leaves
Remove all leaves except for two or three near the top of your cutting using scissors or gardening shears.
Step 4: Dip Into Rooting Hormone (Optional)
To encourage rooting, dip the bottom end of your cutting into rooting hormone powder before placing it in soil or water.
Step 5: Plant Your Cutting
Plant your cutting into moist potting mix approximately one inch deep then cover with plastic wrap secured by rubber bands around each side so air can’t escape while still allowing light through for photosynthesis purposes.
Propagation by Layering
Another way to propagate red twig dogwood is through layering. This method allows you to create new plants without harming the mother plant since you’ll be working with branches that are still attached to it.
Step 1: Identify Branches To Be Used For Layering
Identify lower branches on your Red Twig Dogwood bush that can be bent down and buried under the ground.
Step 2: Prepare The Branches
Remove all leaves and lateral branches from the section of stem where it will come in contact with the soil.
Step 3: Bury The Branches In Soil
Bend each branch down to touch the soil surface nearby, then bury the area where you removed leaves by covering it completely with dampened soil or compost.
Step 4: Wait For Roots To Form
Allow sufficient time for roots to form on your layered cutting.
Step 5: Cut New Plant Free From Mother Plant
Once new roots have formed, cut through your Red Twig Dogwood’s stem just above that point before carefully lifting what is now a new plant out of its old location so as not to disturb any newly established root system!
Conclusion:
Propagation is an excellent way to expand your garden without having to spend much money. With these two easy methods: propagation through cuttings or layering, you can propagate red twig dogwood quickly and easily. Ensure you follow our step-by-step guide for better success rates!
