Big Cuttings

[pogrmman]

Last year, I was curious to see how big of a cutting I could root. I was able to successfully root a cutting over an inch thick! Almost more of a small log than a cutting. It looks really silly. It goes to show you how easy some pomegranates are to root.

Here are some photos from today, almost exactly one year after taking the cutting.

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Have y’all ever rooted any giant cuttings like this?

[jrin3r]

Nice!! What was your rooting method?

[pogrmman]

I rooted it using my standard method for most cuttings.

I used a 50/50 perlite/potting soil mix, kept lightly moistened. I dipped the end of the cutting into IBA rooting hormone powder. I kept them at room temperature (~70 degrees F) under growlights. I tented them to keep the humidity up. I opened it up every now and again to let some air circulate.

This big cutting took a couple weeks longer to root than the other cuttings, though it leafed out like a month before rooting. I hardened them off by gradually un-tenting them, then placing them in a shady spot outside once it warmed up some (I think March?).

This method is usually what I try first for everything. For many plants, it works right away -- pomegranates are a great example of that. For others, it may need some modification like bottom heat, wounding the bottom of the cutting, more or less perlite, etc.

I've also found that pomegranates root quite readily from softwood cuttings, too, if you're able to keep them from wilting.

[jrin3r]

Good to know....Sounds like the same method I use for most of my fig cuttings. My wife wants to try propagating her poms so this'll be easy to get her started on. I've always been able to get my figs rooted pretty easily but have trouble keeping them alive because I forget about them; my wife can keep most green things alive but hasn't tried rooting yet. Hopefully between the two of us we'll have this mastered!

[alanmercieca]

I've also found that pomegranates root quite readily from softwood cuttings, too, if you're able to keep them from wilting.

I get 50% survival with softwood cuttings, that you'd think are way too thin to root. I'd say 3/4 thinner than a pencil. Yet I never measured them, so I am not sure if that much thinner.

[JoshHolbrook]

I've also found that pomegranates root quite readily from softwood cuttings, too, if you're able to keep them from wilting.

I get 50% survival with softwood cuttings, that you'd think are way too thin to root. I'd say 3/4 thinner than a pencil. Yet I never measured them, so I am not sure if that much thinner.

Try bottom heat. I get nearly 100% success with any cuttings I try as long as the heat is up around 75-85F.

Have y’all ever rooted any giant cuttings like this?

I haven't tried one that big - I'm curious to know, though, if you'll get an improved growth rate from a larger cutting. Keep us updated!

[pogrmman]

I've also found that pomegranates root quite readily from softwood cuttings, too, if you're able to keep them from wilting.

I get 50% survival with softwood cuttings, that you'd think are way too thin to root. I'd say 3/4 thinner than a pencil. Yet I never measured them, so I am not sure if that much thinner.

I’ve rooted soft, tender twigs no more than 1-2 mm thick before. Bottom heat definitely helps!

I haven't tried one that big - I'm curious to know, though, if you'll get an improved growth rate from a larger cutting. Keep us updated!

Will do! Even though it took longer to root than the standard sized cuttings, it’s got more growth on it than any of them. Plus, it’s the only one of last year’s cuttings that’s leading out already — so it looks like it might get a bit of a jump on the growing season.

[pogrmman]

While I was taking in the pot today to protect the young, tender growth from the light freeze we’re gonna get tomorrow night, I noticed half the trunk was dead. My guess is that the ugly, skinny branches I cut off of that side were feeding that half of the trunk.

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[pomgranny]

Hello Everyone! I have a question about rooting pomegranates from very new soft shoots. 'Little Cuttings'.

This year I tried something new. Instead of waiting until early next spring, I decided to remove the soft water sprouts forming on the interior of the shrubs - all of those growing towards the interior - and those that were destined to cross other branches if left to mature. Of course, I could not get all of them . . . but removed many (easily at this stage) . . . so that they will not be using plant energy. When first appearing - they easily snap off from their base. They are easily identified because they appear virtually overnight (!) and have long white stems.

Does anyone else remove these waterspouts before they develop further? Are there drawbacks - or any reason why this is a bad idea?

I have found that if I wait until the following spring to cut them out, when they are woody and have grown 2 feet or more - it only seems to cause more 'overgrowth'. They crowd the interior of my trees! And I can't see why they should be allowed to sap all the energy they use, as they profusely grow during the year.

Also - (this is why I put this post in this category) . . . Are these soft cuttings usable for propagating? I stuck a few of them in water. Of course they wilted. But, I wondered if they would root if put into starting medium. ????

[greenfig]

That’s what I did today, trimmed off the green shoots because the tree grew wildly after heavy rains.

That’s my shears to the left of the pile.