One of our cedar trees lost a branch in the snow last week. So I took some cuttings. Is rooting hormone the right way to go?

[Oddly_Aude]

I'm a bit excited to try and get cuttings to root. I read that rooting hormone is the way to go with these. Is that correct? I know it might not work, but I'd love to give them their best shot!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I would do a couple with rooting hormone and a couple without.
At the start of summer you should see if they have rooted.

But "cedar" is quite the vague description, it might help to figure out whether it's a juniper, white/red cedar, or a cypress. I can't tell from the picture.

It's not a cedrus (the only actual true cedar).

 

[TrueSandwich]

But "cedar" is quite the vague description, it might help to figure out whether it's a juniper, white/red cedar, or a cypress. I can't tell from the picture.

My money is on Eastern Red Cedar, aka Juniperus virginiana.

If this is virginiana, it looks to be an upright variety. If so, then they do not root easily. You will get the best results if you use rooting hormone, keep them warm (heating pad), in well-draining soil (Sandy/high grit content), and keep them well watered (not too wet bc root rot). (Source: The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation, by Dirr and Heuser)

 

[penumbra]

It is Juniperus virginiaiana, eastern red cedar. Rooting them is an exercise in futility. Highly unlikely you will get any to root. If you are considering these for their bonsai potential, the species is very difficult for bonsai. They have a lot of issues. If you want to try it, collect some seedlings or small plants. I live on a bit over 8 acres in NW Virginia. There are, without exaggeration, well over a thousand growing on this small parcel of land. I have not seen one here in 35 years that I would consider suitable bonsai material.