The fruit tree cuttings collected in the last six weeks are starting to shoot because of warm daytime temperatures despite cooler nighttime winter temperatures. There’s a risk that the cuttings may use up their reserves on the shoots before forming viable roots. Rooting cuttings in the summer months have shown lower success rates in the last couple of years due to rapid shooting in warm weather. As a result, rooting cuttings in uncontrolled conditions have been shifted by two to three months earlier.
Nature of Cuttings and Success
Softwood roots quickly but has low resilience, while hardwood is difficult to root but provides enduring roots. Semihard wood offers a good compromise, decent rooting and moderate survival chances.
Nature of Fruit Plants
Elderberry, mulberry, grape, Malabar chestnut and fig cuttings are easy-to-root plants.
Moderately easy-to-root trees include peaches, lemon, orange, plums, pecan and pears.
Hard-to-root trees include apricot, mango, and avocado
Tips to Increase Cutting Rooting Success Rates
- Collect cuttings when the trees are fully dormant to delay the start of new shoots.
- Make sure the main tree is healthy and well-watered.
- Using a reliable rooting hormone.
- Keep the rooting cuttings in shady, protected areas from midday sunlight.
- Remove the flower blossoms while retaining the leaf shoots from the root cuttings.
- Use well-drained soil and water sparingly to keep it moist but not wet.
Transplant the seedlings into individual pots when roots show at the bottom of the polybags.
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