Red Japanese maple in particular is considered to be very difficult to propagate vegetatively. For this reason - as well as due to the fact that the propagation of cuttings with Japanese maple takes a lot of time - the exotic species in nurseries is mainly reproduced by grafting. With a few tricks, however, you can also use cuttings to propagate at home - just know how!

Cuttings should be cut in late spring

Propagate Japanese maple by cuttings

As is the case with plants, not every variety of Japanese maple can be propagated equally well via cuttings. The technique works very well with some varieties (e.g. 'Bloodgood' and various 'Dissectum' variants such as 'Garnet' or 'Ornatum'), with others not at all. And this is how you do it:

  • Cut off some suitable shoots between the end of May and the end of June.
  • These should no longer be quite soft, but not yet lignified.
  • You should also have several pairs of leaves.
  • The cut surface at the point to be rooted should be kept as slanted as possible.
  • Remove the bottom pair of leaves, leaving the stem end as a stub.
  • Halve or third larger leaves to minimize evaporation.
  • Dip the cutting end in a rooting powder.
  • Alternatively, you can also use willow water.
  • Now plant the cuttings in prepared plant pots.
  • Jiffy pots filled with fine, washed lava granules (€13.99) are ideal.
  • This lava granulate must absolutely be salt-free!
  • The granules are always kept nice and moist.
  • The plant pots are placed in a greenhouse
  • in a bright and warm place.
  • High humidity is an advantage.
  • Don't forget to air it every day!
  • However, direct sun should be avoided.

Now it's time to be patient - it can take a few weeks or months before the first fine roots appear. The young Japanese maples should initially be frost-free and never overwintered outdoors.

How to make willow water

Self-made willow water has turned out to be a great rooting agent and especially helps difficult candidates to develop the desired roots after all. Before planting, the cuttings are placed in a vessel with the cooled brew for a few hours and, once planted, can also be watered with it.

  • Take young willow branches and cut them into the smallest possible pieces.
  • Pour hot, but not boiling, water over them.
  • The ideal mixing ratio is around 150 grams of willow to 500 milliliters of water.
  • Let the willow sit for at least a day
  • and then drain the brew.
  • The willow water keeps - stored cool and dark - for up to two weeks.

tips

The practice of removing moss has also proven itself among bonsai artists, although it requires a great deal of finesse.

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Trees