Propagating Holly by Cuttings

Propagating Holly by Cuttings  

Background

Holly is a beautiful plant that is often ossociated with Christmas

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Ilex, also knows as Holly, is a evergreen and deciduous plant found as shrubs, trees and climbers. Holly is found throughout the United States. The female plants produce red berries that are commonly used for decorative purposes, while the male plants are only used for pollination. A female plant will only produce the red berries once they have pollinated. When holly is propagated by seed, the sex of the plant cannot be determined until the seedling start blooming which can take between 4 and 12 years. Holly can be propagated in a variety of ways including by seeds, cuttings and grafting. However, Given the desirability of holly bearing red berries, propagating by cutting is the most commonly used method so that holly can be produced on a large scale. Here, I'll go into detail on how to propagate with cuttings.

Selecting and Preparing your Media

Potting mix is best for planting your cuttings because of the aeration,
 drainage and nutrients it contains.

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Firstly, you want the proper media prepared for planting your cuttings in. You will want a soil medium with the proper soil components for aeration, drainage and water and nutrient holding capacities for the best propagation results. Field soil will not be as suitable as a potting mix at fulfilling those needs. If you stop by your local hardware store or Home Depot, they will have different varieties of potting mix for you to choose from. Any of these varieties will work well for your cuttings. Fill a tray with potting mix and then water the tray well. You want the medium to have plenty of moisture for the cuttings to be able to take up, but be careful to not over water. If the medium become too water-logged then the reduced levels of oxygen in the soil will make it difficult for the vulnerable cuttings to establish roots and survive.

Selecting and Gathering Propagation Material

Next, you want to collect your cuttings. Selecting the proper material for cuttings is essential. You want to select cuttings of semi-hardwood tips from current season's growth. The parent plant should be well matured. The timing of collecting cuttings is essential. For optimal rooting, gather your cuttings in mid to late summer, although cuttings may be collected into the following spring as well. 

A sharp and sterilized knife or pruning sheers is essential for collecting cuttings

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When cutting material for propagating, be sure to have a sharp knife or pruners that have been sterilized to ensure no pathogens are being spread when you are cutting. You should also wash your hands just prior to taking the cuttings. I would suggest taking the cuttings in the early morning hours when the plant is well hydrated and turgid. Each cutting should be at least 6 inches long and cut right below a bud. You should keep the cuttings in a glass of water or wrap a moist towel around the bases to avoid desiccation until you are ready to plant them. 

Planting your Cuttings

Wounding your cutting at the base will promote rooting

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Remove all leaves on the bottom 1 inch of each cutting. Wounding the cuttings at the base by stripping off the outside layer of bark with a sharp knife will help induce rooting. However, wounding your cuttings is not a necessary step.  

The use of Auxins will greatly benefit your cuttings. Plant hormones can be purchased at your local garden store. Generally, IBA in concentrations 8,000 to 10,000 ppm will work for most cultivars. However, the concentration of auxins depends on the cultivar that you are propagating so I recommend doing research on your specific holly variety before purchasing the rooting hormones. Dip the bottom 2-3 inches of the cuttings in a powder formulation of IBA, making sure the IBA is uniformly spread, prior to planting. 

Place all cuttings deep enough in the soil for the cuttings to stay upright, which would be approximately one to two inches deep. Pinching the soil around the base of the cuttings would help for stability. 

Post-planting Care

Once the cuttings have been planted, they should be kept in a warm environment, usually between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius and misted regularly. Wrapping the tray with a type of plastic will help maintain a warmer temperature and moist environment in the soil. Watch for fallen and dead leaves and remove them immediately to avoid unwanted pathogens. If you have the supplies and capability, bottom heating the tray will be very helpful for allowing the plants to establish roots. Once strong roots have formed and visible signs of growth are evident, then the cuttings can be transplanted into individual pots. Visible signs of growth will be bud formation/swelling and new leaves forming. This should happen after 4-6 weeks. 

Enjoy!
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Sources

Braley, H. How to Root Holly Cuttings. http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7551155_root-holly-cuttings.html. 

Hartmann, H., Kester, D., Davies, F. and R. Geneve. 1999. Plant Propagation. Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ. 

Khan, T. How to Propagate Holly From Cuttings. http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_8284354_propagate-holly-cuttings.html

Rhoades, H. Propagation of Holly Shrubs with Holly Cuttings. http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-cuttings.htm