Planting a Eugenia Cutting

Preparation

• Eugenia cuttings aren’t as rugged as they may appear and they dry out quickly. For that reason, preparation of the planting container before taking the cutting allows you to act quickly. Use a sterile potting mix, such as that used to start seeds, to prevent fungal infections. Any container will work, as long as it has holes in the bottom for drainage. After pouring the mix into the container, run water over it slowly to get it nice and wet -- at least until water drains from the bottom of the container. Set the container aside to drain while you take the cutting.

Taking the Cutting

• Pruning equipment can harbor all kinds of pathogens, so it’s important to disinfect it before taking a eugenia cutting. Give your pruning shears a 5-minute soak in a solution containing 1 part of household bleach to 3 parts of water. Rinse them in clear water before using them. Eugenia roots best with tip cuttings. Look for a healthy stem from the current year’s growth and cut off 4 to 10 inches. Wrap the cutting immediately in a moist paper towel and place it in a plastic bag to keep it moist until you plant it.

Planting the Cutting

• The eugenia cutting needs to carry out photosynthesis while it produces roots so leave two leaves at the tip and remove the rest. Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the remaining leaves in half. This helps prevent excessive moisture loss. Stick the cutting into the planting medium so that at least three leaf nodes are buried.

Care During Propagation

• Commercial propagators use an intermittent mist system to keep cuttings moist while they produce roots. At home, mimic this system by placing the potted cutting in a plastic bag. To avoid rot, the plastic should not touch the cutting, so insert wooden sticks or straws, evenly spaced, into the planting mix at the inside walls of the pot. As you slide the pot into the bag, adjust it over the sticks so that it’s held away from the cutting. Place the cutting in an area that receives filtered sunlight. Too much sun will overheat the air inside the bag. Keep the soil moist at all times. Remove the eugenia cutting from the bag when it produces new growth or when a tug of the cutting meets with resistance.