Shohin Japanese Beautyberry from Cuttings Project

[Njyamadori]

What are the steps involved in making a bonsai? How long does it take to transform cuttings into a fully developed tree? These questions are common to both beginners and intermediate-level enthusiasts. In this project, I will address these questions while growing beautyberry bonsai from cuttings while documenting each step.

Yesterday, I collected 18 few-inch softwood cuttings from my mother plant that I obtained two years ago. I removed the bottom leaves and cut the base of each cutting at an angle. After that, I applied rooting hormone and inserted them into a sealed container containing a mix of half pumice and half peat moss. I added some water and placed the container near a window. This will encourage the cuttings to develop roots and continue growing. Beautyberries are easy to propagate from cuttings, so I expect that almost all of them will succeed in rooting.

New growth from the mother plant

I took 18 healthy cuttings

Not necessary but I snipped the bases to create an angle to allow more of the root hormone to be in contact.

After applying root hormone I stuck them into cutting soil composed of peat moss and perlite.

Let's hope for the best.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Looking forward to seeing the results!

 

[Njyamadori]

All cuttings have survived. After a week or so I started to leave them outside until the sun took a toll on them then put them back inside. I did this twice a week for about 2 weeks until a few days ago I took off the top and now I will let them be outside.

 

[badatusernames]

Cuttings on these take very easily I’ve found - and can grow like wildfire! I’m planning to get three years worth of cuttings to make a forest with trees of various maturities. Depends how fast they thicken - one I have in normal potting soil is as thick as a forefinger now!

 

[Njyamadori]

Out of those 18, I only kept 9 with 7 in big enough pots. I simply do not have enough room nor enough soil and pots left. Therefore, I chose the 9 biggest ones from the 18. If anyone is viewing this in the distant future, I don't believe that it matters to only keep the bigger ones since beautyberries grow so rapidly. Just keep all of them but I probably have 40 in total from last year's cuttings so the other 9 would be a pain to keep. Anyway, I just have to water them for the next two weeks and then start the fertilization process.