How to Make Cuttings From Holly Bushes

Prepare a small pot for planting cuttings by filling it with equal amounts of sand, peat and perlite. You can also use fine gravel as a rooting medium. Pour about an inch of the rooting hormone in a plastic cup.

Cut 4- to 8-inch-long sections from semihardwood stems of the holly using sharp scissors. Measure from the stem tips. Semihardwood stems are the current year's growth that is partially hardened but is not fully mature.

Remove all the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Leave a couple of leaves at the top. These leaves naturally continue to produce a substance that helps in root growth.

Insert a pencil about 2 inches deep in the rooting medium to create planting holes for the cuttings. Dip the base of each cutting into rooting hormone and plant immediately in individual planting holes. Do not plant deeper than 2 inches.

Firm the soil around the cuttings. Water well. Place the pot in a large, clear plastic bag. Stick a chopstick in the pot to help keep the bag up. Close the top with a rubber band to create a greenhouse effect.

Place the pot in a bright, warm spot out of direct sunlight. Open the bag every three to four days and water enough to keep the soil moist. Close the bag after watering. It usually takes a few weeks for the cuttings to root.

Transfer the rooted cuttings to individual medium-sized pots filled with potting soil. Let the plants get well-established before transplanting to permanent sites in the garden.