Christmas trees are one of the most popular trees around the world and they have been highly associated with the popular Christmas festival that is popular among Christians.
There are different types of Christmas trees around the world and the trees that are considered as “Christmas trees” do have a pyramidal shape which makes them very distinct and specific.
Christmas trees belong to so many genera of the Plantae family and examples include firs belonging to the genus Abies, pines belonging to genus Pinus, spruce which belongs to genus Picea, and lots more and each of these plants do possess excellent pyramidal shapes.
If you have children around you and if you are a fan of festivity then you will know how important it is to have Christmas trees around during the Christmas festive period.
Christmas trees cannot be sown after they have been cut and used for decoration (even directly after cutting); this is because it is very hard for such plants to develop roots from the matured stem, however, there is a way in which this plant can be grown from cuttings.
There are some people that would love to grow their own Christmas tree and would desire to grow this beautiful plant from cuttings rather than the popular use of seeds; I want you to know that it is not easy to carry out but not difficult.
Growing Christmas trees takes patience; now growing them from cuttings could seem almost impossible, however, if you are very patient you can always grow your Christmas tree from cuttings.
Adventurous gardeners should try this, even though it might require much effort and determination you should know that it is not impossible – you just need to do it right.
There are simple tricks and tips that you should always pay very good attention to when you decide to explore propagating Christmas trees through this means as it can be challenging.
Do you desire to know how Christmas trees can be grown from cuttings? Not convinced of the possibility of the conifers growing from cuttings?
If you desire to know the right answer to either of these questions that could have crossed your mind at any point in time then you should read more.
In this article, we will take you through a step-by-step guide on how you can grow Christmas trees from cuttings.
Have a nice time reading!
What are the tools needed for growing Christmas trees from cuttings?
Before heading towards the main part of this article, you should have an idea of the tools that will be needed for getting this job so that you can always prepare ahead if you desire to try it out.
Growing a Christmas tree is not in any way different from other tree plants and these tools and their uses will be discussed in this section. Below are the various tools needed for growing Christmas trees from cuttings:
Hand pruners:
This is a cutting tool that is generally used for making small, clean cuts. This tool is needed for making a cut on the stem and separating the cuttings (removed part of the stem).
Whenever you decide to use this tool, you should always keep it clean before and after use so as to keep the mother plant and cutting safe from diseases as this tool can harbor diseases over time.
Pot (container):
This compartment can either be plastic, steel, or polythene and they are generally used as the place where the plant is to be raised.
The container you decide to use must have draining holes either on the side or beneath (possibly both) to ensure that water is released as much as possible and not to cause root rot.
Plastic bag:
If you want your plant to survive and root as soon as possible then this is a necessity. The plastic bag you decide to use should be transparent and very clear.
This is generally used for holding the container for a short period of time and also to prevent the loss of soil moisture.
Rooting hormone:
This is a substance which is usually used for boosting the rate at which root formation takes place.
This hormone is very important if you want to see a positive result from your plant and desire to see your plat root and germinate much better when sown.
You can always be assured about the fact that the root will always develop as soon as this hormone is added to the lower plant surface.
How to Grow Christmas tree from cuttings
Growing Christmas trees from cuttings require concentration and understanding of the plant that you are dealing with.
No matter the type of Christmas tree that you decide to grow, by following the steps that are going to be discussed below you can always be assured of a positive outcome. The steps involved in growing Christmas trees include:
Choose a young healthy plant:
When deciding on the plant from which to choose cutting from, choosing young trees, less than 10 years will be the best.
This will give the stem cutting to have a better growing ability and you must choose a plant that is healthy and free of diseases.
Make the cut:
Just after observing a young, healthy Christmas tree that is suitable for the use you can then decide to make your cut.
The cut should be made either during late summer, fall, or early winter so as to ensure the survival of the plant.
The stem cutting should be done on the central ladder so as to allow the plant to maintain its pyramidal shape or structure. The cutting should be about 4 to 5 inches in length.
Prepare the cutting:
After making the cut, the leaves and needles on the lower two-third portion of the cutting should be removed. The leaves should be gotten rid of so as to give much space for the cuttings to root and stay strong.
Prepare the Soil:
The container needed for growing the cuttings should be filled with soil with an addition of potting mix.
The soil should be watered and kept moist and do not allow the plant to be soggy or wet as the cuttings will find it very hard to germinate.
You can add other growth supportive substances such as perlite to supply nutrients to the soil.
Plant the prepared cutting:
Before planting, dip the base of the cutting in a rooting hormone (you can purchase this from any gardening store). A small hole should be made at the center of the soil and the cuttings should be planted in the hole.
Make sure that the leafy portion of the plant does not have contact with the soil as this can cause decay. Cover the soil and water the soil keeping it moist.
Cover the plant with a plastic bag:
The container should be carefully placed in a transparent plastic bag and placed in partial shade. This will help to keep the humidity of the plant high and also give the plant the chance to perform better.
Water when needed:
After carefully planting, it is important that you pay very good attention to the soil surface and water when you observe that the soil is getting dry.
Do not water too much; provide the cutting with the necessary amount of water that will keep it moist at all times.
Allow the cuttings to root:
After planting, you need to be watchful of the plant; the main point is to wait for the right time when the plant will develop its root before they can be transplanted.
Rooting generally takes place in 5 weeks and more (sometimes more than a year) so you have to be patient and this can depend on the type of Christmas tree cutting you are growing.
To know if the plant is already rooting; there could be the development of new foliage or when you discover that the plant offers resistance when pulled upward.
Transplant:
Once you are sure that your plant has successfully rooted and can survive the outdoor condition the next thing to do is to expose the plant to the natural outdoor condition.
This should not be done at once; the plant should be allowed to gradually get exposed to increased sunlight.
You should get the plant acclimated to the outdoor condition for about 5 – 7 days before planting outside in an open space.
Conclusion
Growing Christmas trees from their cuttings is not as hard as it seems and as long as you are patient and follow instructions to letter you will definitely get a positive result. Have a nice time exploring the world of agriculture!
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