How to Grow a Plum Bush

Fill a small pot with equal amounts of sand, perlite and peat to root your cuttings. You can also use fine gravel as a rooting medium. Pour about 1 inch of the rooting hormone into the plastic cup.

Cut 4- to 8-inch long sections from softwood stems measuring from the stem tip, using sharp scissors. Softwood is the current year growth that is still succulent and supple and only minimally firm. The best time to take softwood cuttings is between the middle of May and mid-June.

Remove all the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Leave a couple of leaves at the top, as these will naturally continue to produce a substance that will aid rooting.

Insert a pencil at a depth of 2 to 3 inches in the rooting medium to create planting holes. Dip the base of each cutting in the rooting hormone and plant immediately in separate planting holes.

Firm the soil around the newly planted cuttings and water well. Place the entire pot in a large, clear plastic bag. Stick a chopstick in the pot to help the bag stay up. Close the top with a rubber band. Place in a bright, warm area out of direct sun.

Open the bag every three to four days and water only enough to keep the rooting medium moist. Close top after watering. It generally takes a few weeks for the cuttings to root.

Transfer the rooted cuttings to individual medium-sized containers filled with a well-draining potting soil. Let the plants get stronger in growth and well-established before transplanting to a permanent spot in the garden.