Elderberry Cuttings: Harvest, Rooting and Care!

Quick Easy Steps To Growing More Elderberry

Cutting:

You should take your cuttings in early spring when things are just starting to grow again. Or in late fall when plant is going dormant. Look for healthy strong branches that are free of pest and disease. Take a cutting that includes 3-4 leaf nodes. Make cut at an angle just below the bottom most node. Trim off any excess at top just an inch above topmost node.

Rooting:

Water: Place in a jar of water with bottom node below water line. Make sure to change out water often and keep level above bottom node. Be very careful and gentle once roots have formed not to damage them.

Soil: Set cuttings in water for a 24 hours to prepare them. Place the cuttings into a pot of premoistened soil with bottom node below soil line. Many different soil mixes are recommended and any of them will work. If you choose a medium that drains and drys quickly, like sand or perlite, you will need to water more frequently. Potting soil or peat moss may not need as frequent watering but check the soil often.

Care:

Place in a sunny location and wait 6-8 weeks. Mist new leaves every few days to prevent dehydration. make sure soil stays moist and water stays clean depending on method you choose. Some people recommend clear plastic bags as a cover over the top but I feel this can lead to undesirable fungus and if you do use it be sure it does not touch the leaves and remove often to allow plant breath.

Plant:

Sambucus spp. grows well in US hardiness Zones 3-9. They need a area where they can grow to a 8-10 foot spread and height. They need at least 6 hours of sun per day to flower and fruit successfully. They should be planted in soil rich in organic matter that stays moist most of the time but is also well drained. Mulch well and watch them grow. First year sleeps, while roots establish. Second year creeps, they begin to put on some size. Third year leaps, they should be blooming and fruiting!

Best of luck in your elderberry growing and providing fruit for you!

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