Can a New Azalea Bush Grow from a Cut from an Old Bush?

Preparation

• Because stems full of moisture make better cuttings, water the azalea the morning of the day before you plan on taking the cutting. Fill the container you're going to plant the cutting in with a mixture of equal parts of peat moss and perlite. Peat moss can be challenging to wet so keep pouring water over it and stir the mixture until it’s evenly moist. Use a pencil to poke a planting hole in the center of the mix, then set the pot aside to drain while you head out into the garden to take the cutting.

Cutting

• Choose an evergreen azalea stem that is between hard and soft. If it bends easily, it is too green, and if it snaps when bent it is too ripe. The best stems have a bud at the tip. If you’re propagating a deciduous azalea, choose a stem at the green, soft stage that bends easily. Cut a 4- to 5-inch length of the shoot. Snap off or use sharp scissors to cut off all the leaves except the top four.

Planting

• Scrape the bark off the bottom inch of the evergreen azalea cutting and dip the wounded area into a shallow dish filled with liquid fungicide, then into the prepared hole in the planting medium. The deciduous cutting requires a bit more preparation. Dip the bottom inch of the cutting into a cup of water, then roll it in rooting hormone powder. Shake the cutting to remove excess powder and stick the bottom into the prepared hole in the planting pot.

Rooting

• Both deciduous and evergreen azalea cuttings require humidity to produce roots, so slide the pot into a plastic bag and seal it. Place the deciduous cutting on top of a heat mat, at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Both cuttings require indirect sun. At four weeks after planting, fertilize the deciduous azalea cutting with a solution of 1/2 tablespoon of 23-19-17 fertilizer in 1.5 gallons of water. Evergreen azalea cuttings are susceptible to root rot so give the soil a fungicide drench once a week, starting one week after planting. Use 3 tablespoons of captan in 1 gallon of water. Both types of azalea cuttings should root within four to eight weeks.