Azaleas are beautiful flowering shrubs that add a pop of color to any garden If you want more azalea plants or want to share a particular variety with friends, taking azalea cuttings is the best way to propagate them But how long does it actually take for the cuttings to develop roots? Let’s take a closer look.
When to Take Azalea Cuttings
The first step is knowing when to take the cuttings. For azaleas, the best time is in early summer when the new growth is semi-hardened. The stems will be firm but still flexible, not weak and bendy but also not woody. Look for stems with a terminal bud at the end as an indicator of new growth. Take 4-6 inch cuttings first thing in the morning.
Preparing the Cuttings
After you cut the stem below a node, remove all but 2-3 leaves at the top. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth. This is optional but especially helpful for propagating deciduous azaleas
Rooting the Cuttings
Don’t put the azalea cuttings directly in soil. Use a sterile potting mix made for cuttings, like a peat and perlite blend. The cutting needs humidity to root, so cover the pot with a plastic bag or dome. Put it in bright indirect light.
Rooting Timeline
So when will those azalea cuttings develop roots? Here’s a timeline of what to expect:
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1-2 weeks – The cuttings will start to form callus tissue over the cut end. This is the first step before roots emerge.
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3-4 weeks – Small white roots will begin growing from the stem. Check carefully as they will be small and delicate at first.
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6-8 weeks – Evergreen azaleas typically have enough mature roots to transplant in 6-8 weeks. Deciduous azaleas take a bit longer.
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3-4 months – Large-leaf rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas usually take at least 3-4 months for the cuttings to fully root.
Transplanting the Rooted Cuttings
Once the azalea cuttings have developed a good root system, it’s time to transplant them. Carefully remove the young plant from the rooting mix. Tease apart any circled or tangled roots gently.
Prepare a pot with sterile potting soil, or plant directly in the garden in a shaded spot. Water the newly planted azalea regularly until it establishes. Feed monthly with an acidic fertilizer formulated for azaleas.
The first winter, keep the baby azalea plant in a sheltered spot outdoors or indoors. This protects it until the roots mature enough for it to withstand the elements. Then you can plant in its permanent flowering spot in the garden.
Tips for Faster Rooting
While patience is required for azalea propagation, here are some tips to help speed up rooting:
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Take cuttings from vigorous, healthy stems with no flower buds.
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Use a sharp, clean knife or pruners to prevent crushing.
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Cut just below a node so there are leaves at the top.
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Apply rooting hormone to the cut end.
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Use a sterile, well-draining rooting medium.
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Keep humidity high by covering with plastic.
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Give bright, indirect light. Avoid direct hot sun.
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Keep the medium moist but not soaked.
Following proper azalea cutting propagation methods and providing optimal conditions will help the cuttings root as fast as possible. In ideal conditions, some azalea cuttings may root in 4-6 weeks rather than the typical 6-8 weeks.
Enjoy an Unlimited Supply
Taking azalea cuttings is an easy way to get more of these stunning spring bloomers for free. In just a few months, you can have baby azalea plants to expand your garden collection or share with gardening friends. Soon you’ll have an unlimited supply of your favorite azalea varieties!
How to Grow Azaleas from Cuttings | Propagating Rooted Cuttings of Azalea Plants
FAQ
What time of year do you take azalea cuttings?
Can you root a broken azalea branch?
How long do Azalea cuttings take to grow?
Keep the tray or container in a warm spot where it will get bright but indirect light. Too much direct light will overheat the cuttings. Azalea cuttings can take anywhere from four to eight weeks to develop roots. At this time, partially remove the plastic covering and remove a little more of it each day for a few days.
How long does it take azaleas to grow?
Water the pot frequently to keep the soil moist. In about a year, the branch will have grown roots, at which point it can be cut loose from the parent plant. Cuttings of the stems of most evergreen azaleas can be rooted rather easily. Use new growth for the cuttings, at any time from June onwards, depending on the weather and the variety of azalea.
How do you root a Azalea Bush?
Some liquid rooting hormones are too strong to dip your cuttings in and could damage the plant, so it’s best to use rooting hormone in powder form or dilute liquid with water if it’s concentrated. Now you’ve taken and prepared several cuttings from your Azalea bush, it’s time to root them out in soil.
When should azaleas be cut?
The easiest strategy for propagating azalea by cutting is to clip new growth stems beginning in June, and usually any time through early fall. Why? The softer stems of new growth root more easily than older, harder stems. But note – if the cuttings are too soft, you might have issues with fungal infections.
Do Azalea cuttings take root?
Azalea cuttings easily take root. Here’s what you need to know. Azaleas are spring flowering shrubs popular in landscaping and are related to rhododendrons. They are easy to grow and are beautiful options for shady corners of the garden. If you know how to propagate them correctly, you can get many more azaleas from one specimen.
How do you propagate azaleas?
So, take a cutting, coax it into rooting, and replant. The easiest strategy for propagating azalea by cutting is to clip new growth stems beginning in June, and usually any time through early fall. Why? The softer stems of new growth root more easily than older, harder stems.