How to root an evergreen branch

phytopia:

Things You’ll Need

• Pruning shears
• Sharp knife
• Rooting hormone
• 10-inch container
• Coarse sand
• Peat moss
• Spray bottle (filled with water)
• Plastic bag (gallon size)
Rubber band

1. Select a stem from the evergreen tree or shrub that has growth from the current growing season. Cut off the top 10 inches with pruning shears.
2. Strip away the evergreen needles from the bottom 2 inches of the stem. Make a 1-inch-long vertical cut into each side of the bottom of the stem with the knife. Wounding helps stimulate root formation.
3. Fill the 10-inch container with a mixture of one part coarse sand and one part peat moss. Mix the two ingredients well. Spray the rooting medium well with water to make it damp.
4. Coat the bottom inch of the stem with rooting hormone. Insert your finger into the center of the medium in the container and then insert the stem into the hole. Firm the medium gently around the stem.
5. Place the plastic bag over the top of the container and secure it with the rubber band.
6. Place the container in a location with temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the container out of direct sunlight.
7. Remove the plastic bag every day and mist the medium with the spray bottle to moisten it. Replace the plastic bag.
8. Watch the cutting for evidence of roots forming. When you see new growth on the tip of the cutting, this indicates that new roots exist beneath the surface of the rooting medium. The process may take up to three months.
9. Remove the plastic bag after you see new growth. Continue to keep the medium moist while the roots grow bigger. Transplant the cutting outdoors after about another month.

(pictured: douglas fir)