Bay tree cuttings

[Earthbabe]

I have agreed to provide some cuttings to a fellow grape and while checking to make sure I was doing it right - cuttings not being my forte, I struggled to find a definition of "semi-ripe" cutting. Can anyone help, preferably asap.

Cheers all.

[srodders]

"A semi-ripe cutting is taken from this year's growth - the tips are new tender growth, with the lower part of the cutting being older and harder growth. "

From some website I found - Sounds like it should be done later in the year - but I guess a shoot that grew end of last year would be OK.

[Earthbabe]

Thanks srodders. My bay doesn't ever seem to stop growing so I'll give it a whirl. If it doesn't work I'll try again later in the year.

[Herbaholic]

Hi Earthbabe

Propogating bay is a bit of a hit and miss affair as it always seems to be a tempremental plant to me.

When taking your cutting pick ripe (the best way to explain it is not woody or floppy they shoots will be firm but still green, I hope that makes sense?) Make sure the shoots you pick are shoots between 9 to 15cm and use a sharp gardening knife to take them. Some say you should leave a heel on the cutting, this requires you to take the cutting so it takes some of the original branch with it, but I've never found it to make any difference. I always take my cutting under a leaf joint.
Trim your cutting so it has only three or for leaves remaining and place the cutting in a small pot filled with cuttings compost. Label the plant and place it in a site with no direct sunlight, so a cold frame would be super but not the kicthen window sill! One thing bay cuttings do need is high humidity, so a heated propagator offers the best chance of success and mist the plants occasionally. Don't hold your breath though, as I said at the beginning bay can be very hit and miss and the cuttings can take up to a year before they've rooted

Generally its scorned upon to add any rooting hormone to bay cuttings, but I'm experimenting this year with hormone rooting powder, rooting gel and also floating the cuttings in water after they're supported in some oasis the flower arrangement foam you can get from florists. Not sure if any of these methods will be quicker, but if they are I'll let you know.

[Earthbabe]

Hi Herbaholic and thanks

Sounds like I'm on the right lines but I'm glad it's not just me who has a prob with bay cuttings.

I'll keep trying though. Just because I want to be able to say I did it. I don't actually need another bay though so I'll probably give it away.

[rustylady]

Oh dear, I seem to have ignored all the rules and have about 4 or 5 rooted cuttings in a pot. They've been there about a year, and although they were obviously rooted last year I did nothing with them. I must pot them up separately now.

[Earthbabe]

Congrats RL. Enjoy them.