How to Root Black Elderberry Cuttings

Black Elderberries

Elderberry - one of the fastest growing plants is also very quick to form roots on simple hardwood or softwood cuttings. If you have access to healthy black elderberry plants, you should be able to take a few cuttings (with permission, of course) and within just two years, be harvesting your own black elderberries. 

If you take your own cuttings, cut a six to eight inch section of woody stem and make sure to include at least one leaf node at the top, and one or two others lower down if possible. Place the fresh cuttings directly in water as soon as possible

So, given that you now have some black elderberry cuttings in your hand - what next?

Step 1: Identify the correct orientation of the cutting.

Carefully inspect each cutting to determine which end is the top and which is the bottom. Proper orientation is essential, as a cutting placed upside down will not absorb water and will quickly dry out.

Step 2: Use visual cues to confirm orientation.
If leaves are still attached, the top of the cutting will be obvious. If not, examine the leaf nodes along the stem. Each node is wider on the upper side and tapers downward toward the stem. The wider side should always face upward.

Step 3: Mark the bottom of the cutting.

When removing cuttings from the parent plant, make a slanted cut at the bottom end. This angled cut helps you quickly identify the correct orientation later and improves consistency when planting or placing cuttings in water.

Roots forming at the lower leaf node

If you still have a couple of months before winter, place the cuttings in a suitably sized container so that they are more than halfway submerged in water. Set the container in a sunny window and change the water every few days.

Within one to two weeks, you should notice small bumps forming at the base of the cutting. These are the beginnings of roots, which will grow a little more each day. Once you see roots stretching out, it’s time to plant the cuttings—either in their permanent location or into plant pots. Be very gentle when planting to avoid disturbing the new roots, then water well.

Plant elderberries in full sun for the best fruit production. Although they tolerate poor conditions, they perform best in loamy soil with plenty of sunlight and regular water. Keep in mind that elderberries go dormant in winter and burst back to life in early spring.

The first year may seem unimpressive, as the plant focuses on establishing a strong root system and typically sends up only two or three stems. By the second year, however, growth becomes dramatic. Plants can reach over ten feet tall and produce six to twelve arching branches, each bearing large umbels of beautiful black elderberries.

If you don't have cuttings, you can check out my Etsy site, Wildflower Run.

https://wildflowerrun.etsy.com

American Black Elderberry Flowers

 

How to Root Red Mulberry (Morus Rubra) Tree Cuttings

Summertime is such a fun time for kids when school is finally out. They often have time to think for themselves and be outside exploring this big grand world even if it is from within the scope of their own backyards or maybe a park close by. Half of the United States, from the Mississippi eastward is home to a wonderful fruit tree that almost always grows wild without any care from humans and produces bucket loads of fruit free for children. The red mulberry is the tree I remember finding early in the summer before the blackberries were ripe. They are so much easier to pick as the tree has no thorns. 

Now, I am happy to have a few mulberry trees on my property even if it's only to harvest a few handfuls to eat fresh after I get my mail on summer days. The fruit is soft and sweet and the seeds are barely perceptible when I eat them. I was pleased to find out that this tree will also root from cuttings while it is actively growing, unlike most fruit trees that root from dormant cuttings.

So, how to get these red mulberry tree cuttings to root? There are just a few steps that you can follow and within a few years, you can harvest your own mulberries!

1) Obtain fresh cuttings, preferably with a top leaf. You want to make sure that they cutting is still moist inside so that water can flow from the potting soil into the cutting. If you received them via mail, recut the bottom cut so that you are working with a fresh surface. Immediately place the cutting in water.

2) Prepare a pot by filling it with a well moistened mixture of half coconut coir and vermiculite. (You can also use perlite). Poke a hold in it the same diameter of the cutting about 4 inches deep

3) Dip the freshly cut end of the red mulberry cutting into a rooting hormone preparation

4) Carefully place the cutting into the prepared hole, sinking it down until there is only one node above the soil line

5) Press the soil firmly around the cutting, using your fingers.

6) Water the cutting with room temperature water - preferably non-chlorinated

7) Cover the cutting with a clear cup or bag to keep humidity levels high. 

8) Place the cutting some place warm and with indirect light for four to six weeks or until rooted.

9) Check the cutting every few days by lifting the cover and allowing fresh air in. Make sure the soil stays damp but not wet. 

10) Plant the rooted cutting into a new pot filled with good garden soil. Place outside in a sunny spot and make sure to keep soil damp. In the fall, you can plant your new tiny mulberry tree in permanent location where it will get plenty of sunshine, preferably near other trees but still have room to grow.

That's it. Pretty simple. Although I will say that sometimes the mulberry cuttings can be resistant to rooting. Don't expect more than 50 percent to succeed, unless you have a special touch!

You can check out my Etsy page, Wildflower Run to see if I have any mulberry cuttings in stock.

Full grown mulberry tree