Wednesday, July 27, 2011

How to Root Grape Vine Branches

Cuttings allow you to grow a clone of the parent plant the cuttings are taken from. Propagating with cuttings produces a mature plant more quickly and ensures the new plant has all the desirable qualities of the parent. Grape vines are often grown from stem cuttings, which are taken from healthy branches in late winter when the grape vine is still dormant. Rooting the cutting properly allows you to quickly propagate your grapes without the need of purchasing new plants.

Cut a healthy branch from the grape plant, removing it ¼ inch beneath a healthy bud or leaf node. Cut off the tip of the branch ¼ inch in front of the top bud. Each cutting must have three to five leaf nodes or buds along its length.

Fill a 1 gallon pot with equal parts vermiculite and peat moss. Water the vermiculite mixture until it is evenly moist throughout.

Fill a small bowl with a purchased rooting hormone, available from garden centers and some florists. Coat the bottom of the grape cutting in the rooting hormone.

Push the bottom of the cutting into the potting mixture until it nearly touches the bottom of the pot. The top leaf bud or node should sit 1 to 3 inches above the soil mixture.

Set the pot in a warm area that receives bright, indirect sunlight. Cover the pot with a plastic bag to help retain heat and moisture during rooting.

Remove the bag and mist the cutting with water once a day. Water the potting mixture if the surface begins to dry.

Remove the plastic bag once the cuttings root, usually within four weeks of planting. Continue to water until you are ready to transplant the cuttings outside in spring.