[roxie]

Is it possible to take cutting from Cherry Blossoms and if so can you give me some guidelines on how I should go about this, thank you.

[verge]

Most Cherry Blossom Trees are propagated by nurseries through grafting, where a scion (form of cutting) is connected to a larger cherry rootstock, but this is quite tricky if you've never done it before. It might be more handy for you to take softwood cuttings at home yourself. These are usually taken in the spring.

Cut fresh (green) stems about eight inches long and strip them of all their leaves except for the top two or three leaves. Also ensure no flowers are attached. Then moisten the end of the cutting and dip it in hormone rooting powder.

Fill a pot with moist cutting compost and create a hole for the cutting by using a pencil or some similar object. This will prevent the rooting hormone rubbing from the cutting upon insertion. Place the lower 2 inches of the cutting in the compost filled pot and firm around it

Grow on in in indirect sunlight in a warm location (about 20C). Mist the cutting regularly to maintain humidity or else cover it with a clear plastic bag secured with a rubber band around the pot. If you use the bag method ensure the following, that you open the bag for a minimum of five minutes a day to allow the the cutting breathe, also ensure that the wet bag is not touching against the cutting. Use a wire hoop or two to keep the bag and the cutting separate.

Rooting can be expected to take place from ten weeks onwards.
Final tip: Take lots of cuttings at once, only one in twenty may root, so insure you have twenty taken.
Good luck .

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