How to Root a Cypress Branch

Mix equal amounts of sand and milled peat moss. The amounts of sand and milled peatmoss vary, because it depends on how many 4-inch pots you need to fill. Fill 4-inch pots with this mixture to 1/4 of an inch from the rim.

Water the sand and peat-moss mixture thoroughly, until water runs out the bottom drainage holes. Allow the excess water to drain as you gather the cypress cuttings.

Examine the cypress tree for first-year growth. The bark will appear mostly green and brown. When the branch or stem is bent, it will not snap or break.

Remove 4 to 10 inches off the tip of the branch, cutting the end at a 45-degree angle with pruning shears. Take a tip cutting from the main shoot or from a long side branch.

Prepare the cutting by removing the needles on the bottom 2/3 of the branch. Dip this end into water and shake off the excess water. Insert the wet end into rooting hormone, shaking off the excess powder.

Form a hole in the sand and milled peatmoss with the end of a pencil. The hole should be 2 inches deep.

Insert the end with rooting hormone into the hole, and firm the soil in place around the cutting with your fingers.

Place the pots in a clear plastic bag. Close the bag to help hold in humidity. The cuttings should be placed in a warm area that receives indirect light. Check the cuttings daily and mist the soil to keep it moist. It takes a month or more before the roots form. Pull on the cuttings gently. If it pulls easily out of the soil, the roots have not formed yet. You need to feel a slight resistance. When you feel resistance, remove the plastic bag and repot them in a 6-inch pot filled with potting soil. Continue to grow the cypress branch in the 6-inch pots until they are well-established. Transplant them into their permanent location in the yard.