Update on cotinus coggygria cuttings

by Antia
(Manchester)

Hi there!

I just wanted to give an update on my cuttings, which are 2 weeks and 2 days old and are already showing new growth.

Two of the cuttings are showing new growth on the lower parts of the stem, while the remaining one is showing new growth on the top (sorry for not providing an image for it, my phone camera can’t focus properly for some reason). Does this mean they have rooted successfully?

Thanks :)

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Jun 15, 2020
 Not Always
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

When cuttings of some species of plants are rooted, new growth can be a sign, but often, if the cuttings are taken at the wrong time, they will sprout new growth as a last ditch effort at life. Within days, the new growth will wilt and the cutting is dead.

The best way to tell if the cuttings are rooted is to gently tug on them. If they seem to be firmly in the soil, chances are, they're rooted. If not, and they wiggle around, or pull out entirely, they aren't, obviously.

As a Certified Horticulturist and propagator by trade, I've felt lucky to get 90% rooting with most plants.

I learned how to propagate some really difficult plants, such as Daphne cneorum (notoriously hard to root) and Amelanchier alnifolia varieties (these need a really strong rooting hormone).

Cotinus coggygria is fairly easy to root, provided the cuttings are taken at the right time and you use the correct rooting hormone. I found softwood cuttings taken right about now, still soft and flexible, not woody, rooted the best.

I don't know if you'll have access to the mother plant, but if I were you, I would take more cuttings, and take notes on which do best.

The biggest hurdle is not the rooting, but the overwintering.

Suggestion; get Michael Dirrs 'The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation' ISBN 0-942375-00-9 from your local library. Look on page 112 for details on Cotinus. Don't give up!
Jun 18, 2020
 Not yet
by: Antia

Hi there!

They don’t seem to be rooted yet, but they’re growing each day more and seem very healthy. I just hope they don’t die D:

Also, I’ve been trying to find that book but I couldn’t find anything. Is there any digital copy online?
Jun 18, 2020
 Lots of options
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

I suggested the library because this is a textbook and likely to be expensive. Here is more info on it; Get Text Books.

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