Propagating Ligustrum Privet Cuttings

Prepare the rooting medium and containers. The rooting medium and containers should be clean and sterile to avoid disease problems. A suitable rooting medium can be purchased or made by combining equal parts peat moss and sand or perlite. The container or containers used for rooting only have to contain a few inches of the medium. A flat with a plastic cover often proves ideal for rooting several cuttings at a time.

Remove cuttings from the desired parent plant. Use a sharp knife or shears to remove a portion of stem about 4 to 6 inches long from the ligustrum's actively growing terminals, or branch tips.

Cut off leaves from the bottom 1-1/2 inch of the cuttings. These leaves must be removed as they would otherwise be in contact with the rooting medium and thus susceptible to rot.

Dip the bottom of the cuttings in an auxin compound or rooting hormone.

Poke a hole in the rooting medium for each cutting with a pencil or other pointed tool to ensure that the auxin compound will not be scraped off when the cutting is inserted.

Insert each cutting about 1-1/2 to 2 inches into the prepared hole and firm the medium around the base of the cuttings.

Apply enough water to the cuttings to allow the medium to settle in well around them.

Cover the cuttings and medium with a plastic or glass cover or enclose the container in a plastic bag. This will help maintain adequate humidity.

Place the cuttings in a suitable environment. This location should be well-lit area but not in direct sunlight. Maintain a temperature around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mist or water the cuttings whenever the rooting medium appears dry or condensation fails to appear on the inside of the covering.

Check the cuttings for roots regularly after about eight weeks. Gently remove one of the cuttings to inspect it for roots. Once the ligustrum cuttings develop a few roots with lengths of at least 1/2-inch, they can be transplanted into pots filled with high-quality potting soil. It may be beneficial to gradually reduce the level of humidity around the cuttings before they are transplanted.