The vibrant yellow blooms of the Forsythia shrub are a welcome sign of spring. Propagating this vigorous plant from cuttings is a straightforward, low-cost way to expand your landscape. This method ensures the new plant will be an exact genetic copy of the parent shrub. Forsythia roots easily, making it an excellent choice for home propagation.
Choosing the Optimal Timing
The ideal time to take Forsythia cuttings depends entirely on the stage of growth of the parent plant, offering a choice between softwood and hardwood material. Softwood cuttings, which are taken from the current season’s new growth, are best harvested in late spring or early summer, typically from June to early July, just after the shrub has finished flowering. This young material is still flexible and green, allowing it to root quickly, often within six to eight weeks. Because softwood material is actively growing, it is more delicate and requires consistent humidity to prevent drying out before roots can form.
Hardwood cuttings, conversely, are taken during the plant’s dormant season, which generally spans from late fall to late winter, between November and February. This material comes from the previous season’s growth, characterized by mature, woody, pencil-thick stems that are firm and no longer flexible. While hardwood cuttings are slower to root, often taking several months, they are significantly more robust and less susceptible to drying out or disease once planted. Choosing the right type of cutting depends on the gardener’s preference for a faster rooting time (softwood) or a hardier, less maintenance-intensive process (hardwood).
Preparing and Taking Cuttings
Regardless of the timing, harvesting the cutting material follows a precise procedure to maximize rooting success. Begin by selecting a healthy, non-flowering shoot from the parent plant that shows no signs of damage or disease. The ideal cutting length is generally between four to six inches for softwood and six to eight inches for hardwood, ensuring the piece contains several leaf nodes.
Use sharp, sterilized pruners or a knife for the cut to prevent crushing the stem tissue and minimize the risk of introducing pathogens. Slice the bottom of the stem at a slight angle, just below a leaf node, as this area concentrates root-forming cells. Remove all leaves from the lower half to two-thirds of the cutting, leaving only one or two sets at the top. This reduces water loss through transpiration, allowing the cutting to focus energy on root production.
Rooting the Cuttings
To prepare the cutting for planting, immediately dip the base into a rooting hormone, which stimulates root development. Dip the prepared base about one to two inches into the powder, gently tapping off any excess before inserting it into the rooting medium. A well-draining, sterile medium is necessary for success, such as a mixture of coarse sand and perlite or a blend of peat moss and perlite.
Insert the bottom two inches of the cutting into the medium, ensuring at least one leaf node is buried beneath the surface, and firm the material around the base. Softwood cuttings require high humidity, which can be provided by covering the container with a clear plastic bag or dome, creating a mini-greenhouse effect. Place the container in a location that receives bright, indirect light, and maintain consistent moisture without allowing it to become waterlogged. Softwood cuttings typically root in six to eight weeks, while hardwood cuttings, often rooted outside or in a cold frame over winter, will take longer.
Moving Cuttings to the Garden
The cutting is ready for transplanting when it has developed a robust root system capable of sustaining the plant in soil. Successful rooting is indicated by the appearance of new top growth and slight resistance when the cutting is gently tugged. Once rooted, the young plant must undergo hardening off to acclimate it to outdoor conditions.
Hardening off involves gradually exposing the cutting to increasing periods of direct sunlight, wind, and lower humidity over about two weeks. Softwood cuttings rooted in summer are generally ready for planting in a temporary nursery bed or larger pot in early fall. Hardwood cuttings, rooted over winter, are best transplanted the following spring or fall to allow a full growing season for establishment. After transplanting, water the young shrub regularly and apply mulch around the base to regulate soil temperature and conserve water.