How to Start New Blueberry Bushes From Old

Blueberry bushes are popular both for their fruit and for their beauty. They produce fruit during the summer and flame red foliage in the fall. These bushes can be combined with other border plants to create a pleasing landscape in your yard. Propagate new blueberry bushes from cuttings of established bushes with a few straightforward steps.

Scissors/knife
Pruning shears
Glass
Water
Rooting hormone
Sand/vermiculite/peat moss
Pots
Pencil

Instructions

- 1
  Cut canes from your blueberry bush during early morning. Take cuttings from new growth on the bush. Cut off three, four or five leaves with your cutting.
- 2
  Place the cuttings root-side down in a glass of water. Leave them for several hours to harden them off.
- 3
  Remove the cuttings from the water and dip the bottom into a rooting hormone to stimulate growth.
- 4
  Mix your potting soil. Experiment with different combinations of sand, peat moss and vermiculite. An easy recipe is 50 percent sand and 50 percent peat moss.
- 5
  Use pots that have good drainage. Flat pots are preferable. Fill the pots with your choice of planting medium.
- 6
  Use a pencil to create holes for the cuttings: 1 inch deep for small cuttings and 2 inches deep for large cuttings. Place the cuttings root-side down in these holes.
- 7
  Press the soil around the cuttings, using your fingers. Make sure the soil is firm enough to support the cuttings.
- 8
  Water the cuttings until the soil is moist but not wet. Maintain that level of moisture while the cuttings take root.

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