7 Steps to Grow Softwood Cuttings
You can grow new plants from softwood cuttings (young stems) from many perennials including shrubs and bushes in your garden. Spring and summer are prime time for rooting these cuttings. Use these step-by-step instructions to propagate more of your favorite plants.
Softwood Cutting Propagation
What is a softwood cutting? A softwood cutting is a piece of plant stem taken from a woody shrub or bush during a particular growth phase. This is how new plant stems change from spring to fall:
- Herbaceous (young, green growth in spring)
- Softwood (starting to toughen up)
- Semi-ripe or semi-hardwood
- Hardwood (late summer and fall)
After the spring herbaceous stage, new plant stems begin to toughen up and that’s the softwood stage. Cuttings can be rooted at every stage of active plant growth, offering different pros and cons in each phase. Softwood cuttings are a good choice because the stem is not too young and prone to drying out yet not as tough and slow-growing as a hardwood cutting.
Also, the propagation method (below) is fairly universal: once you learn it, you can do the same thing with countless plants—not just shrubs. Cool, right?
How to Identify the Softwood Stage
To select softwood shoots for cuttings, try the bending test. In spring or summer:
- New growth is too green and will bend but not break.
- Softwood will usually snap when bent. This is just right.
- Hardwood is too woody to snap.
But don’t let this test get in your way: it’s not foolproof. If you’re ready to go, just take cuttings and go for it. As mentioned, they can root at any stage: softwood is just one option. Depending on the plant, apical (main) shoots or lateral (side) shoots work. Use what looks good and take extras because propagation is not guaranteed. Some, all, or none may root even if you’re doing everything right.
Plants to Grow From Softwood Cuttings
Mid-Spring to Early Summer , After Last Frost
Take cuttings from new growth that is starting to toughen. Beware that any plants you propagate are not on your local invasive species list. Here are just a few suggestions:
| Coleus (Soenostemon) | Gardenia (Gardenia) | Mock strawberry (Potentilla) |
| Clematis (Clematis) | Geranium (Pelagonium) | Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) |
| Dogwood (Cornus) | Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) | Rose (Rosa) |
| Elderberry (Sambucus) | Hydrangea (Hydrangea) | Sage (Salvia) |
| Forsythia (Forsythia) | Lilac (Syringa) | Viburnum |
| Fuchsia (Fuchsia) | Mock Orange (Philadelphus) | Weigela |
| Wisteria* |
Summer Semi-Ripe Cuttings
Take cuttings on maturing stems (base is hard, tip is soft) in late summer.
| Boxwood (Buxus) | Dead-nettles (Lamium)* | Mock orange (Philadelphus) |
| Butterfly bush (Buddleia)* | Herbs: bay, hyssop, lavender, rosemary, rue, sage, thyme | Passion flower (Passifloraceae) |
| Cherry laurel (Lauraceae) | Holly (Ilex) | Privet (Ligustrum), can be invasive in natural areas: check for your region. |
| Coleus (Soenostemon) | Honeysuckle (Lonicera)* | Firethorn (Pyracantha) |
| Escallonia (Escallonia) | Ivy | Solanum |
| Evergreen shrubs | Lavender (Lavandula) | Spirea (Caryopteris) |
| Geranium (Pelargonium) | Mallows (Lavatera) | Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum) |
| Viburnum |
How to Take Softwood Cuttings
This is a generalized version of my method for all types of cuttings from softwood to hardwood. You’ll notice lots of variation between gardeners but ultimately if enough of the growing conditions are met, you’ll have success. Also, because some cuttings just won’t root, always take more than you need.
How to Root Softwood Cuttings
Step-by-step instructions for taking cuttings from woody perennial plants to propagate new plants.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Cost: $10
Supplies
- 6 Softwood cuttings per pot
Equipment
- Potting mix, soil-less
- 6-8″ flower pot (clay or plastic)
- Rooting hormone powder (optional)
- Garden snippers
- Scalpel or sharp, clean knife
- Plastic food bag and damp paper towel
Instructions
1. Prepare Pot for Planting
- Have your flower pot and organic soil-less potting mix ready.
- Water potting mix thoroughly and top up as needed.
2. Take Cutting from Donor Plant
- Obtain your cutting in the morning, if possible, when stems are fully hydrated.
- Choose a new growth stem (from the current growing season) that does not have any buds or flowers.
- Use a sharp, clean knife and cut just above a leaf node.
- Be careful never to crush or squeeze the stems.
- Wrap cutting in damp paper towel and place in plastic bag or bin until next step.
- You can root up to 6 cuttings in one pot, so get a bunch of them.
3. Remove Lower Leaves
- Remove lower leaves.
4. Trim Stem
- Trim stem directly below leaf nodes (where you just removed the lower leaves).
5. Apply Rooting Hormone
At this stage in a plant’s growth, rooting hormone is generally not needed unless the stem is getting fairly tough or woody.
- Place small amount of rooting hormone powder on plate.
- Dip stem in rooting hormone powder.
- Gently tap off excess.
6. Plant Stem
- Push stem into potting mix, approximately 2 inches deep (up to remaining leaf stems).
- The ideal position in the pot is against the inner wall.
7. Plant More
- You can fit approximately 6 cuttings around the inside of a 6-inch pot.
Notes: This method works for propagating many different plants during each active growth stage.
Care & Growth
In the summer, I keep my cuttings on a covered patio. You could also keep them indoors near a window but never in direct sun.
Ideally, temperatures stay between 15°C to 27°C (60°F and 80°F) and you follow these tips:
- Keep soil moist, not wet.
- Keep pot in a warm, sheltered location (to avoid drying out).
- Provide very high humidity, either by misting the cuttings twice daily or using greenhouse misting system.
- Growth rate varies by species and vigor of mother plant.
- Freshly cut stems may wilt and look rather pathetic for the first week or so. Don’t panic: with even watering, they will perk up.
- In most cases, roots form after 4-6 weeks, which means the cuttings are ready for transplanting into individual pots.
- You may also notice new leaf growth.
- After another month, plants should be ready for planting in the garden.
Once you see how simple it is, you’ll make use of this technique all the time. Good luck with your plant propagation and be sure to sign up for the free newsletter for fresh tips every month.
Sources:
How to Grow Softwood Cuttings (7 Easy Steps)
https://empressofdirt.net/grow-softwood-cuttings/#wprm-recipe-container-71296
July 15, 2020 by Melissa J. Will