The symmetrical profiles of Thuja (Thuja spp.) evergreens adorn landscapes and gardens in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant-hardiness zones 3 through 8 with spheres, pyramids and columns of dense, yellow to deep-green foliage. Five indigenous thuja species — generally called arborvitae — increase throughout the United Sates. Of them, American arborvitae (T. occidentalis) has made the most commercial cultivars, including 11/2- to 2 foot “Na-Na” and 2 5-foot-high “Fastigiata.” Pest -and disease- arborvitae from stem cuttings.
Best Time to Propagate
Arborvitae stems are ready for harvesting in late summer or fall, when the crops have completed their active growing period. The branches are company enough to snap when bent. Semi-hardwood cuttings after temperatures have dropped harvested in late autumn, root more rapidly than those taken early in the day.
Harvesting the Cuttings
The cuttings that are greatest come with wholesome, well-formed new development harvested in the first morning. Use pruning shears or a sharp knife to eliminate a 4- to 5 inch size of the branch, reducing beneath a set of needles and measuring backwards from its suggestion. Wrap the cuttings in moist paper towels and place them to stop them before you pot them from becoming dry.
Rooting Medium and Pots
Cuttings root best-in pots containing a combination of 50-percent river sand and 50-percent peat moss. This blend encourages versatile, well-branched roots. Four-inch clay pots with drainage holes make containers that are efficient and low-cost. To eliminate any decay-producing organisms -heat the pots before the middle of the medium registers a temperature of 140-degrees for 30 minutes.
Rooting the Cuttings
Strip the needles from the one third of each cutting to restrict water loss. Run the bases of cuttings across a saucer before planting to accelerate rooting of rooting hormone powder. Before inserting them in the medium to each pot tap the powder in the cuttings.
Caring for the Cuttings
Glass jars put on the pots produce greenhouses. The cuttings prosper in the environment, therefore you mist them moisten the medium each day and to cool the needles. By placing the pots out of sunlight, the jars are kept from over-heating. The cuttings execute at temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees; the root creation is warmed by setting them on a heating pad set 5 levels greater in relation to the air. When your arborvitae cuttings have rooted, or propagated, theyâll begin to present new development.
Consideration
To propagate crops that are several in one arborvitae, harvest a big branch that is solitary and make personal cuttings from twigs and its suggestion. The less cuts, the better; several wounds improve the the exposure of the arborvitae .