Andromada propagation

[Charles Woolever]

I'm looking for help in propagating a Pieris japonica at my parent's house. I started several weeks ago with several soft-wood cuttings. Stripped all but a few leaves, dipped in hormone and placed in some soil-less mix. All died.

Any suggestions? I really want to get some rooted before they move in the fall.

Thanks,

Charles

[Kay Lancaster]

Try some summer cuttings, too. Pieris is slow to root anyhow, and seems to like a little bottom heat. FWIW, I prefer straight sand for rooting cuttings. Many commercial growers favor perlite. Also, make your cuts with a very sharp blade... a new single edge razor blade is a good choice.

Any possibility of setting up a mist bench? Raise the humidity around the cuttings to cut the transpiration losses, and keep the air moving so you don't have a fungus factory starting.

Kay

[Sheldon]

With propagating andromeda layering works best... bend a few young lower branches to the ground, cover with good loam, place a heavy stone on it to hold, and keep moist. After a month roots will have formed, cut off the section with the root ball and plant immediately.

[Charles Woolever]

Thanks for everyone!

Charles