How to Propagate a Deutzia Gracilis Bush
The slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) is a low-growing shrub that's native to Japan. Deutzia is deciduous and grows in a mound, from 2 to 4 feet tall and across. Each spring, the shrub is covered in stems full of tiny white flowers for one to two weeks. Deutzia does well as low hedges, in mass plantings or as a specimen piece to add textural interest. Deutzia is hardy in Sunset Climate Zones 2 to 11 and 14 to 17. Propagate deutzia by rooting softwood cuttings in the summer. The cuttings will form roots within a matter of weeks, just in time for fall planting for another year's growth.
Test the deutzia stems to see if they have matured enough to propagate. Shrubs root best when they are in the softwood state -- soft enough to bend but brittle enough to break. Bend a branch on the shrub about halfway down. If it bends and then snaps, your deutzia is ready. Branches that only bend are too young, and branches that break right away without bending first are past the peak time for propagation.
Fill a plastic container with damp paper towels. This container will hold the cuttings while you work in the garden, keeping them damp and out of the sunlight, which can damage freshly cut stems.
Cut the stems for rooting early in the morning on a relatively cool morning. This will ensure that the plant is well-hydrated. Use pruning shears to cut a branch about 1 inch below the second leaf node. Choose stems that result in a cutting between 3 and 5 inches long. Place the cut piece into the plastic container and cover it with damp paper towels.
Remove the bottom leaves from each cutting to create a wound in the stem. The new roots in the cutting will grow from this wounded spot. Add additional wounds by shaving away two strips of bark from the sides of the cut end of each stem.
Make a mixture of half soilless potting mix and half perlite. Fill seedling pots with this mixture and water it thoroughly.
Dip the wounded end of each stem into water and then into rooting hormone powder. Make sure each stem is covered with a generous layer. Tap the stem on the side of the container to remove any excess powder that may not adhere to the stem.
Insert each stem into the potting mix in a seedling pot. Firm the mixture around each stem. Trim each remaining leaf in half, removing the top half of each leaf. This will cut down on the amount of moisture that each plant loses.
Place a small stick into each seedling pot, placing it near the edge of the pot. Arrange all the seedling pots on a tray and fill the tray with water to moisten the potting mix from below. Place the tray into a plastic bag. Set the bag under a tree or in another part of your garden that gets occasional sunlight. Keep the plants moist by watering them from below, and leave them in the plastic bag until the stems develop roots.
- Plastic container
- Paper towel
- Pruning shears
- Sharp knife
- Seedling planters
- Soilless potting mix
- Rooting hormone powder
- Plastic bag
- Rooted cuttings need a very moist environment. Water them daily to ensure they don't dry out.