VERY EASY WAY TO REPRODUCT THUI How to propagate thuja by cuttings in summer and autumn - detailed instructions Do not know how to properly cut and root cuttings of coniferous plants? We will tell you how to turn a thuja twig into a strong, healthy seedling. Cutting is the most effective way to get new thuja plants. Unlike seed propagation, vegetative propagation does not take much time and allows you to preserve varietal characteristics. Timing of thuja cuttings Perhaps the most difficult thing in coniferous cuttings is to correctly determine the timing of this procedure. On this issue, experts have several opinions. Some advocate winter propagation of conifers in February. Others are convinced that thuja is best cut in April. Still others argue that the optimal time for harvesting cuttings is summer. The main criterion that should be guided in this matter is whether the plant has finished the growth of shoots. If the answer to this question is yes, then you can safely start grafting. Summer cuttings of thuja are preferable because it allows the cuttings to gain strength and take root well for the next season. How to cut the cuttings? A strong, healthy plant is chosen for propagation. In its upper part, a well-developed skeletal branch is found and, with a sharp movement of the hand, 2-3-year-old lignified growths located at the ends of the shoot are torn from it. In order for the cuttings to take root faster, they must be torn off with a small piece of bark ("heel"). Thuja grown from a cuttings taken from a lateral shoot can grow irregularly shaped. A stalk of a diseased plant will naturally turn into a diseased seedling. If the "heel" is too long, it is advisable to shorten it a little so that the stalk does not rot. If, by tearing off a twig, you slightly peeled the bark from the wood, the situation can be corrected with a knife - slightly clean up the cut. The ideal length of a thuja stalk is 10-15 cm. If the branches are very woody and you cannot easily tear them off, use a pruner. Can cuttings be stored? Thuja cuttings are rooted immediately after cutting. You cannot store them, otherwise they will quickly become unusable and will not put down good roots. If you do not have time to prepare everything you need for rooting, you can briefly wrap the cuttings with a damp cloth and put them in a cool, dark place. Preparation of thuja cuttings for rooting First of all, thuja branches get rid of unnecessary needles. First of all, it is cut at the bottom of the twig. If the stalk is too "lush", you can also partially shorten the needles on the rest of the branch. The bottom of the cutting is also slightly trimmed from the bark. Next, the cuttings are placed in a solution of a growth regulator (for example, Epin) overnight (about 12 hours). Preparing the Rooting Substrate You can also use clean river sand or light, well-drained soil as the substrate. The soil mixture for rooting cuttings of thuja is prepared from peat, leafy earth and sand, mixed in equal parts. The soil or sand must be decomposed into shallow containers. For example, seedling containers or special cassettes are suitable. The containers should have holes for drainage and aeration. Be sure to put expanded clay, gravel or other small stones on one. Next, the substrate is poured into the containers and disinfected with a dark solution of potassium permanganate. If you can, use sphagnum as a substrate. This moss has excellent moisture retention and powerful antiseptic properties. Thus, cuttings will not be afraid of drying out and fungus. Rooting of thuja cuttings When everything is ready for the procedure, remove the cuttings from the growth regulator solution and dip their tips in Kornevin. Immediately after this, insert the cuttings into the substrate at an angle of 45 degrees to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Then place the cuttings in a glass or plastic greenhouse, or cover them with a film or plastic bag. If you are using sphagnum for rooting cuttings, wrap the cuttings in it, wrap them with gauze and put them in a plastic bag. Caring for cuttings Cuttings are stored in a warm and bright place. However, it is important to consider that they need diffused light. Direct sunlight will quickly destroy the thuja cuttings, and they will wither faster than take root. Water the substrate only after its top layer dries. Remember, too much moisture is just as destructive to the cuttings as lack of moisture. Water carefully so that the water does not get on the needles. It is advisable to use a spray bottle so that a strong jet of water does not expose the ground around the "heel" of the cutting. The appearance of new shoots on the branches of thuja indicates that the cuttings have taken root. If you rooted cuttings in sphagnum or a common container, two weeks after rooting, you need to plant them for growing in separate containers or a school (a special bed on which the plants will grow before planting in a permanent place). Prepare the soil mixture according to the same principle: mix the garden soil with high peat or forest litter. Subsequent plant care consists of regular watering, feeding and weeding. In November, young seedlings are covered with spruce branches, leaves or sawdust and left to winter under cover.
A beautiful tree or shrub will become a decoration of the local area or garden area. Thuja can be an excellent choice for such an occasion. This evergreen ornamental plant is native to East Asia, it has a dense crown and unpretentious care. Thanks to the ease of cutting branches from thuja, you can create graceful natural shapes. Therefore, people who breed plants on their own will be interested to know what the reproduction of thuja is at home.
Reproduction of thuja at home by seeds
Seed offspring are more resilient than plants propagated by cuttings. However, the process of growing a seedling is quite long - from two to six years. For planting, only fresh seeds are required, which ripen in cones. After collecting them, they are placed in a warm, dark place, and after two or three days they open. A prerequisite will be their placement in wet sand. After a couple of days, plant the seeds in large pots or boxes with a specially prepared mixture: for this, take three parts of sod land in part of peat and sifted sand. Then the containers are transferred to the basement and left for three months. After that, the boxes (pots) are taken out and left in a warm place, without excess sunlight. After the shoots appear, you should gradually accustom the plant to fresh air and sunlight, as shown in this photo.
The plant should be transplanted at the beginning of summer, after fertilizing the planting site with a small amount of ash, peat and sand. In some cases, the harvested seeds are left in the ground for the winter to lie under the snow (natural stratification). And then they are sown to a depth of 0.5 cm, sprinkled with coniferous sawdust. It is necessary to provide the plant with protection from the sun's rays, and cover the shoots with special shields. You can make groundbait with a weak solution of slurry (one part of manure for 20 parts of water). After about a year and a half, it will be possible to determine the type of growing plant - columnar or spherical.
How to propagate thuja at home by cuttings
A better known method of reproduction of thuja at home is by separating the cuttings (cuttings). You will need a lignified shoot with a length of 20 cm, it is better to cut it off in late April, early May, in extreme cases - the second half of June. The stalk is separated by cutting (it will be good if some of the wood of the donor plant remains on it), after which the bottom of the shoot is cleaned of needles and immersed in water for 2 hours. The soil mixture must be made from equal parts of peat, turf and river sand. In order to disinfect the substrate, it must be treated with potassium permanganate. The harvested shoot is planted to a depth of 3-4 cm.
You should also provide appropriate external conditions for the germination of the cuttings. The greenhouse must have sufficient humidity (70%) and be sunny - therefore use a transparent greenhouse hood. Do not forget about airing the area. Use spraying to maintain proper moisture levels.
You can familiarize yourself with the described methods of breeding thuja in more detail in the following video:
Now you know how thuja breeds at home, and this will not cause any particular difficulties. Observing these tips, you can grow a beautiful ornamental plant, implement your innovative ideas for decorating the garden and the adjoining area. And then the thuja will delight you with its evergreen crown for many years.
Conifers may have once been associated only with the forest. Today they have occupied the niche of country residents with honor and even settled in apartments. Thuja is often planted. It takes up little space, requires almost no maintenance and reproduces with ease.
Growing thuja from cuttings: process features
There are 2 possibilities for reproduction of thuja: cuttings and seeds. The second is much more convenient. Seedlings are more likely to be produced from seeds. But such a method of growing thuja, if you want to use it as a hedge, does not always give the desired result. This often leads to deformation of the entire structure. And with the variety it is not always possible to guess.
If it is required, for example, to create a whole alley of identical trees, they must be grown and planted using a vegetative method. Another nuance is stratification. Each coniferous culture requires a certain period of time for this, and in the case of thuja, sometimes you have to wait as much as 6 years. During the entire period, at first the seeds will live under the snow, and then the seedlings will begin to slowly stretch out, gaining strength. But their endurance in the end will be pretty good. They will become more robust than those planted vegetatively. And yet, reproduction of thuja by cuttings is more profitable and reasonable, albeit somewhat more costly in terms of effort.
It is possible to develop the root system of thuja cuttings not only in a variety of special compositions, but also in a jar of clean water. Its volume should be such that its height does not exceed the phalanx of the index finger. Do not put more than 3 cuttings in the jar at once. If grafting has to be done for more trees, a greenhouse will help. It must maintain a certain humidity (70%) and a sufficient amount of light. In the absence of a natural source, fluorescent lamps are used.
In addition, the cultivated cutting needs constant ventilation so that its root system does not rot. The rest of the needles should not touch the substrate. The optimum depth is no more than 3 cm: this value is sufficient for competent root development.
How to propagate thuja by cuttings?
- First of all, you have to wait for the onset of autumn, since at other times of the year the vegetative breeding method for thuja is not suitable. Attempts to do this during a warm period lead to rapid drying of the cuttings. The root system simply does not have time to develop. In a young tree (not more than 3 years old), lateral shoots are selected. The length should be 50 cm. To obtain the correct bottom edge, the stalk is cut off with a sharp motion or cut obliquely.
- A palm-width part of the shoot from below is deprived of all existing needles. Then for 3-5 hours it is worth sending it to a container of water. During this time, another vessel will be prepared, filled with turf and peat, as well as river sand. The proportions between the constituents of the substrate are equal. The soil is treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and cuttings are planted in it. They will be in a transparent greenhouse with the previously specified conditions for humidity and light.
- Gardeners recommend replacing watering with spraying. And as for the moment of transplantation, it comes only after the tree has completely rooted and hardened. On warm days, containers are taken out onto the open balcony. The time of their stay in air gradually increases. Gardeners recommend starting from 15 minutes, bringing to 10-12 hours.
- Only after hardening and strengthening the root system, the thuja is transplanted either to a summer cottage or to a more spacious pot. This is done by the method of closed roots, when there is still sufficient earth around them. If the plant is transplanted into open ground, then with the onset of cold, the soil around it must be insulated with spruce branches and leaves. After that, the tree itself is protected with a covering material. So it will be necessary to take care of it for the first 2-3 years, if it is winter hardy.
Thuja: planting, care and reproduction
Particular attention is paid to planting at their summer cottage. The depth of the hole dug under the grown seedling should reach 70 cm. Let such a figure do not frighten, especially if the tree itself is not yet 1 m in height. When filling the cavity, part of the depth is leveled. Drainage is poured at the very bottom. It will prevent stagnation during the rainy season. Then water is added there. The plant "shrinks". Its root collar will not go low after the substrate settles, but it will not be exposed either. It is this factor that will guarantee the correct and long growth of the tree.
Those who are going to create a landscape composition from thuja should know that it is not worth planting several trees close by. They are growing very actively. Already next year they will become cramped. The halo around each of them is within 1-2.5 m.As a result, the distance between adjacent specimens will be 2-5 m.
The Asian beauty with a dense crown, characterized by a high density, has been actively cultivated in the middle lane in the last 15 years. This tree can even be dwarf - from the strength of 30 cm in height. This allows him to "sit" on the windowsill in the apartment. Larger specimens are easily mastered in the garden. There, after simple manipulations, they become one of the best decorative elements. Due to the simplicity of cutting and shaping the crown, the number of landscape compositions in which the thuja can be used is growing inexorably.
She has a lot of varieties. Even especially frost-resistant ones have been bred, withstand temperatures down to -45 ° C. Therefore, the issue of planting a thuja in the middle lane has been resolved. The same species that do not like the cold too much, enterprising gardeners are initially grown in large portable containers. They are brought into a heated room for the winter. More resistant varieties allow you to either bend the trunk to the ground so that it is completely covered with snow, or wrap them with cloth and tie them. The latter is required to preserve the delicate twigs in their original state. They can simply break from the piling snow.
In addition, too bright the sun, which is characteristic of spring in some regions, also requires a covering material for thuja. Here, white fabric is used, which has the ability to reflect rays. And it is for this reason that thuja should not live in an apartment on those windowsills that are too much lit. At the dacha, a tree should be identified in partial shade.
Tuyu loves abundant watering. It is recommended to carry out it not too often, but efficiently. Daily watering in the morning is optimal. Thuja will not refuse a shower from a hose that touches the tree from the crown to the base of the trunk. This will not only refresh her, but also deprive her of dust, small insects and other troubles. If it grows in an apartment, then you can bring a container with a tree into the bathroom and pour it out of the shower. It is also worth sprinkling it abundantly from a spray bottle.
Top dressing, unlike watering, is not as relevant. For the purpose of prevention, gardeners recommend introducing a little complex fertilizer into the substrate. But this is mainly required by a plant in an apartment, where the earth does not have the ability to renew itself, and there is nowhere to pull nutrients. At the summer cottage, there is no special sense in working with fertilizers for thuja.
Propagation of thuja by cuttings is not such a difficult task. Even if this is your first year as a gardener and you have never tried the vegetative method before, you should not expect a bad result. If you follow all the tips given above, the process will go smoothly.
Thuja is an unpretentious coniferous plant that has found wide application in landscape design. From it, hedges and whole alleys are formed, for which dozens or even hundreds of young trees are needed at once. Therefore, for quick landscaping of the territory, thuja propagation by cuttings is practiced. Consider the benefits of grafting and how to implement it.
Benefits of the vegetative method
Despite the fact that when thuj is propagated by cuttings, less hardy plants are obtained compared to seedlings grown from seeds, this method is somewhat popular. And there are a number of explanations for this:
- When growing varietal thuja, this is the only way to maintain its specific appearance. Seed reproduction does not always allow maintaining maternal qualities;
- All coniferous seeds require natural stratification. It allows you to get pretty hardy specimens. Since the process takes a long time, it will take a long time to wait for full-fledged seedlings ready for planting. This usually takes up to 6 years;
- Cutting allows you to get young, formed thuja, ready for planting in a permanent place in 3 or even 2 years.
The vegetative method of reproduction of thuja has one more small disadvantage. As a rule, in the process of obtaining seedlings for hedges, only 70-80% of the plants from the total number of harvested branches survive. And this is subject to all the rules for the reproduction of conifers. If you make obvious mistakes, then the percentage of rooted cuttings is sharply reduced. Therefore, strictly follow the instructions below.
Features of autumn breeding
More chances of getting healthy seedlings are given by the reproduction of thuja by cuttings in the fall. At this time, the movement of the juice slows down. Therefore, the number of dead branches from lack of water will be reduced. But when harvesting them during the vegetative dormancy period, you will have to spend more time for rooting than when harvesting them during the period of intensive growth.
Harvesting twigs
If autumn has already arrived, this does not mean that it is already time to harvest the branches. Then the question arises when is it best to propagate evergreen thuja by cuttings? This should be done on a cloudy October day, when deciduous trees are actively crumbling. The choice of tree and branches must also be taken wisely:
- In order for the seedlings to develop a beautiful crown of the correct shape, it is better to choose the apical shoots;
- For tall trees, select twigs that grow for 3-4 years;
- The material chosen must be lignified, otherwise rooting will be ineffective;
- The length of the shoot should not exceed 50 cm.
Now about how the harvesting of thuja cuttings for autumn breeding is going on. Tear off the branches from the shoots so that at the end of each there is a piece of wood and lignified bark - a heel. The longer the heel, the better. But you need to cut off those places where the bark began to recede. Additionally, trim off any scaly foliage up to 30 mm from the heel.
Rooting methods
After the autumn harvesting of thuja cuttings for reproduction is completed, choose a method for rooting them:
- In water;
- In the substrate;
- In a diaper.
To propagate thuja with lignified cuttings, you can use the simplest method - in water. To do this, pour water into a container with a column height of 10-15 mm. No more than three cuttings can be placed in each container. Dip only the heel into the water - the leaves should not touch its surface. Place the jars in a cool, but not devoid of natural light, place.
Plain water is devoid of nutrients, therefore, rooting twigs with this method weaken and subsequently take root poorly. If you are interested in how to grow thuja from cuttings so that the seedlings are more hardy, then pay attention to the propagation method in the substrate:
- Prepare containers for filling with substrate. They should have many holes for aerating the soil;
- Put a little crushed clay or gravel at the bottom to create a drainage layer;
- Mix equal parts peat, leafy soil and sand. Calcine the mixture and pour with a dark solution of potassium permanganate;
- Then put the thuja cuttings prepared for reproduction in water for 12 hours. To stimulate the appearance of roots, dissolve the growth stimulator Kornevin;
- Fill the containers with the substrate and make indentations;
- Submerge the branches at a 60-degree angle to a depth of 15 mm;
- Sprinkle the substrate with river sand on top and compact.
Thuja twigs harvested in autumn can be rooted in a diaper. For this you will need:
- Plastic bag;
- Sphagnum;
- Disposable baby diaper;
- Kornevin or Kornerost;
Place the thuja cuttings harvested in the fall for 10-12 hours in a solution with a growth stimulator. Then:
- Spread the absorbent layer up;
- Saturate sphagnum with boiled cooled water and spread over the center of the diaper;
- Put thuja twigs on the moss at some distance from each other;
- Bend the diaper so that the heels are between its layers;
- Roll the diaper into a roll so that only the heels are in it, and on one side the tops of the branches peep out of it;
- Place the folded diaper in a plastic bag and hang over a window or between frames.
This method of reproduction of thuja is highly efficient and easy to care for the cuttings during the rooting period. Sphagnum and the absorbent layer of the diaper prevent water from evaporating. Therefore, the heels of the branches are constantly moistened. In addition, moss has bactericidal properties, and the risk of rotting is dramatically reduced.
Features of care in the autumn rooting period
If you propagate decorative thuja with cuttings plucked in the fall, putting sprigs of water, then care consists only in changing it. This will prevent heels from rotting. To change the water, first remove the cuttings by wrapping a damp cloth around their bases. Rinse the container and pour new water into its bottom. You can add a little potassium permanganate. Then place the cuttings.
If you decide to root the cuttings of the thuja variety you like in the substrate, then the main task will be to moisten the soil. This must be done with a spray gun so that the earth does not settle, exposing the heels. Do not allow the earthen coma to dry out too much, but also do not overdo it with watering. Excess moisture can lead to decay of the heel or root system.
The most hassle-free care for rooting thuja cuttings taken for propagation in the fall will be when rooting in a diaper with sphagnum moss. The absorbent diaper layer and the moss hold water so well that it rarely needs to be moistened. Take a look at the bag of twigs. The presence or absence of condensation on the inside of the bag serves as an indicator of sufficient moisture or its deficiency. In the second case, it's time to moisten the diaper a little.
Thuja propagation by cuttings in spring
Spring propagation methods of decorative thuja by cuttings have their own characteristics. At this time, sap flow and the growth of new shoots are activated. Therefore, rooting should take place faster. But this method of cuttings has a drawback. Since the plant is actively growing, it needs a lot of moisture. And if you forgot to moisten at least once, then the twig is unlikely to give a root.
How to harvest cuttings in spring
How to properly prepare cuttings for breeding varietal thujas has already been discussed above. Here the rules for choosing shoots are not much different. Healthy branches from the top of the tree that are less than 3 years old will do. To harvest the material, you need to tear off the branches with a sharp movement so that a small heel remains.
If the cuttings of the thuja were not prepared in April, then postpone the matter until July, when the second phase of growth begins. But you will only be able to get rooted seedlings by next spring.
Rooting methods
It is best to root thuja cuttings in the substrate during spring propagation. The twigs need a lot of moisture and at least a minimum of food. And in plain water or in a diaper with moss during active growth, they are not enough.
Instructions for rooting spring cuttings:
- Put the twigs in Kornevin's solution for a day;
- Prepare containers with lots of holes;
- At the bottom, lay a drainage layer in the form of crushed gravel or expanded clay;
- Fill the containers with river sand, it is possible with an admixture of silt (natural fertilizer);
- Pour boiling water over the sand, and then treat with a pink solution of potassium permanganate;
- Stick the prepared cuttings into the cooled substrate to a depth of 10-15 mm and compact the sand around them.
Since thuja propagation by cuttings occurs in early spring, it is still too cold outside for twigs torn from the parent tree. Therefore, containers with them must be placed in a greenhouse in a shaded place or a suitable spunbond greenhouse. Pay attention to the temperature regime. The temperature should not be lower than 17 o C. But the heat from 23 o C will not bring health to the plant.
Many gardeners do not like the propagation of thuja by cuttings in spring only because of the complex care of seedlings. You need to spray them daily. And if the weather is hot outside, then you need to moisten the substrate twice. But you cannot wet the leaves of the thuja, otherwise they will rot. After two months, the first roots will begin to appear, and the risk of drying out will decrease.
Growing up in schools
When the thuja cuttings harvested in spring or autumn have given roots, they need to be transplanted for growing in a school - a special bed, where they will spend 2-3 years before transplanting to a permanent place. Autumn branches are transplanted the next year, spring ones - in the same, in September:
- Choose a site for the formation of a school. It should be in partial shade;
- Dig up the ground and add some peat (a bucket per square meter is enough);
- Water the containers with rooted cuttings so that they can be easily removed without damaging the roots;
Thuja is an unpretentious and frost-resistant plant. It is often used for landscaping garden plots or country houses. However, thuja is an expensive pleasure, so it is easier to breed them yourself. In addition, following simple guidelines, thuja can be grown even without being an experienced gardener.
This plant can be propagated in two ways:
- With the help of seeds;
- Using twigs or cuttings.
The first method, which includes seeds, is very painstaking and time-consuming. It will take two to six years. In addition, it is believed that thuja grown from cuttings are more hardy. If you have a decorative type of thuja, you should also not propagate it by seeds. It is best to choose branch propagation.
Thuja propagation by cuttings
For those who want to grow a similar plant in themselves, there is a very simple and affordable option - the cultivation of thuja cuttings. Reproduction of thuja in this way should take place in the fall. When preparing to breed a plant, you have probably read many articles on how to propagate thuja by cuttings, and you know that the shoot must be healthy and strong. Do not choose branches that are too young or too old. Pay attention to the ones that grow in the middle of the tree. 
Such outgrowths are usually already sufficiently strong, but not yet stiff for reproduction. Tear off some 50 cm long shoots. There should be some bark left at the end of the shoot.
Experienced gardeners who know how to grow thuja from cuttings have named this plant "heel". The longer the heel, the better the shoot will be rooted. In order to pluck a branch with such a "heel", they usually use a knife or simply pluck a branch with a sharp downward movement. We remove all unnecessary twigs and leaves. It is necessary to prepare a pot of peat and leafy soil in advance (in a ratio of 1 to 1). The cutting itself is deepened two centimeters into the ground at an angle of 60 degrees. The area around the planted cutting should be sprinkled with sand and lightly pressed with your finger.
Care must be taken that the remaining leaves do not touch the peat. We water and on top of the cutting we make a greenhouse from a film or a simple can. The higher the transparency of the jar, the better. After that, the pot with the appendage should be set aside in a bright and warm place. Humidity should be no higher than 70% at an air temperature of 23 degrees, otherwise the stalk may rot. It is better to spray the cutting itself with water, and not water it under the root. 
As soon as new shoots began to appear on the cuttings, this means that it is completely rooted.
However, it is too early to plant such a thuja in the garden. Start opening the greenhouse more often and letting the thuja get some air. Increase the airing time by minimizing greenhouse time. As soon as the thuja gets used to the coolness, you can safely plant it in the garden.
How to grow thuja from a twig?
When deciding how to dilute thuja, several alternative methods can be found. On the Internet, you can find a lot of information on the question that sounds like this: "How to grow a thuja from a branch?" The "instructions" are based on the same actions as when transplanting with cuttings. However, as elsewhere, there are some nuances. If you are interested in how to grow a thuja from a branch, then the cut of the branch itself must first be treated with a root formation stimulator. This will help the root system develop and establish itself in the new soil.
A pallet with sand should be treated with a 3% solution of potassium permanganate. The twigs themselves should be placed in the holes made in advance at an angle of 45 degrees. Several branches can be grown in one pallet at once. For this, the distance between them should be from 3 to 5 cm.
When replanting with branches, make sure that no direct sunlight falls on the pallet with branches.
Moistening can be done using the same technology as when propagating by cuttings. It will be necessary to plant the rooted branches in the spring or you can keep them in greenhouse conditions until summer. This will make it more likely that your thujas will quickly get used to the new conditions and will survive the first winter more calmly.
