How to Reproduce a Flowering Cherry Tree

Fill a small pot with equal amounts of peat, perlite and sand. Additionally, very fine gravel can be substitued as a growing medium.

Cut 4- to 8-inch long sections from softwood stems, measuring from the stem tips, using sharp scissors. Softwood is the supple and succulent current-year growth that is not yet hardened. The best time to take softwood cuttings is between late spring and early summer.

Remove all the leaves from the lower section of each cutting. Leave a couple of leaves at the top, as these naturally continue to produce a substance that helps in root production.

Insert a pencil at a depth of 2 inches in the rooting medium to create planting holes. Pour about 1 inch of rooting hormone into a plastic cup. Dip the base of each cutting into the hormone and plant immediately into individual holes.

Firm the soil around the cuttings. Water until the medium is thoroughly moist. Place the whole pot in a large, clear, plastic bag. Stick a chopstick in the pot to help keep the bag upright. Seal the top closed with a rubber band.

Put the pot in a warm, bright area out of direct sunlight. Open the bag every three to four days, and water enough to keep the soil moist. It generally takes a few weeks for the cuttings to root.

Transfer rooted cuttings to medium-size pot filled with a well-drained potting soil. Place in a sunny spot, and let young plants get well-established before transplanting to a permanent spot in the garden.