How to Propagate Thuja at Home: Step-by-Step Instructions

Evergreen thuja is a popular plant for landscaping and garden design. To save money, it can be propagate at home In various ways. To avoid losing seedlings and making mistakes, it's important to understand the specifics of the process and choose the right soil and method.

Basic methods of reproduction

Thuja is a frost-hardy plant commonly found in gardens. Many gardeners prefer to purchase large seedlings, fearing the difficulty of propagation. In fact, propagation is straightforward, even for those without experience. There are several methods that can be used at home:

• seeds;
• by cuttings;
• layering;
• by dividing the bush.

The choice depends on the variety, the time of year, the age of the mother plant, and the regional climate. In warmer regions, propagation can be done in the fall, without the risk of early ground frosts. In the temperate zone, Moscow, and Leningrad regions, the best time for cuttings and dividing bushes is mid-spring, the first week of April.

Advantages and disadvantages of different breeding methods

Each method has its own advantages:

• Propagating thuja by cuttings is the easiest and most accessible method. Cuttings can be obtained by pruning the bush at any time of year. This method requires no additional investment and has a high survival rate.
• Growing from seeds is a labor-intensive method that requires experience and knowledge of agricultural technology. With the right approach, you can get many seedlings and a good profit. However, growing them takes at least 3-4 years.
• Root division is a good method for quickly and easily propagating rare varieties. The downside is the labor-intensive process and the need to dig up the mature plant.
• Layering rarely produces the desired results. After covering with soil, the branches often rot, preventing new roots from forming.

Propagation of thuja by cuttings at home

For a novice gardener, the best option is to grow young thuja from cuttings. This guarantees 50-80% vigorous seedlings from each bush. After 1-2 years, they can be transplanted into open ground, formed into a hedge, or sold to consumers.

Rules for cutting thuja cuttings

Under favorable conditions, the bush can be propagated by cuttings in the fall or any month of spring. In the warm climates of Crimea and the Krasnodar region, it is recommended to do this in late February, after the snow has completely melted. At the same time, the thuja is pruned to create a beautiful crown. The main condition is that the plant stops growing new shoots.

For cuttings, select bushes 4–5 years old with strong, woody branches and a dense crown. For replanting, select upper branches at least 20 cm long, with visible new buds and signs of active growth. Lower shoots are less likely to take root and take longer to develop a root system.

After pruning, 5-8 cuttings are obtained from each bush. Using a sharp knife, carefully remove the lower branches and make long cuts exposing the wood; these will become the roots of the young arborvitaes. After the initial treatment, the cuts can be sprayed with a weak growth stimulant solution. Prepare a shallow container of room-temperature water in advance, into which the pruned and disinfected cuttings are placed.

Features of rooting cuttings

When pruning branches for future seedlings, it's important to leave a long heel—the junction with the main trunk. The longer the joint, the higher the chance of rooting. If you don't have a growth stimulant, you can wrap the branches in a damp cloth and leave them for 8-10 hours.

The prepared soil should be placed in clean containers treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. A more convenient option is to plant the arborvitae cuttings in individual containers that are easy to move or rearrange. Reusable shallow-well trays are available at specialty stores.

Rooting a thuja from a cut branch is easy if you follow the step-by-step instructions:

• The heel and cut are carefully treated with the growth stimulator "Kornevin" or "Epin".
• The branches are carefully placed into the moistened soil at an angle, trying to deepen them by 2–2.5 cm.
• Use your fingers to press the soil against the trunk, compacting it and compacting it.
• The plant is watered with warm or settled water, and the remaining liquid is drained from the tray.
• Containers or boxes are covered with transparent film to create a greenhouse effect and maintain humidity.

Before starting, all cutting tools must be sterilized and wiped with alcohol to prevent bacterial contamination of the cuttings. This helps prevent the occurrence of gray rot, neck rot, late blight, and the fungal disease "shooting blight" of conifers.

After planting, it's important to maintain humidity levels of at least 70%. It's best to move the seedlings to a bright location free from drafts and temperature fluctuations, and protect them from direct sunlight and overwatering.

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Selecting soil and fertilizers

Thuja roots best in soil with a neutral pH of 4–5.5. It does not tolerate stagnant water well and often rots in poorly drained soil. Ornamental varieties require a light soil mixed with the following components:

• sifted river sand;
• turf soil;
• peat;
• leaf humus.

Before planting, mix all ingredients in a container and water with warm water with potassium permanganate added. This will kill bacteria and pests, preventing disease and damage to the seedlings. The soil for cuttings must be prepared with a small amount of fertilizer and nutrients:

• wood ash;
• bone meal;
• compost.

Synthetic fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus should be added in late summer. They can damage cuttings, cause burns, and destroy young roots.

An alternative method of cuttings "in potatoes"

One unconventional yet effective way to propagate ornamental thuja is by planting cuttings in a fresh potato tuber. This method is recommended when rooting weak branches of a rare variety. The root becomes a container that supplies nutrients, moisture, and vitamins.

After harvesting the thuja branches, select several potatoes free of rot and disease. Wash them, remove any growing eyes, and make a hole in the ground with a nail treated with an antiseptic. Plant the potatoes in boxes or containers, insert the cuttings, and cover with a nutritious potting mix.

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You can build a simple greenhouse yourself and plant arborvitaes in potato beds directly in the open ground. Water the roots periodically and fertilize them with wood ash and compost. After rooting, transplant the young bushes to their permanent location.

Caring for plantings

After propagation, the containers and boxes should be placed in a warm place. If the work was carried out in February or March, it's best to bring them indoors or into a cellar and provide additional lighting. Thuja requires moisture to root, but condensation can lead to root rot.

Water the seedlings directly into the soil, avoiding the cut edges and heels. During the first 1-2 months, it's best to mist the soil, checking for dryness before each watering. Mulching the seedlings is not recommended, as this leads to moisture stagnation and rotting of the immature root system.

If the plant is propagated correctly by cuttings, roots will appear by late August or early September. If the weather is favorable, the young thuja can be planted outdoors. With insulation and shelter, it will survive the winter and produce new shoots and branches in the spring.

Propagating and growing thuja is not difficult if you follow expert advice. The best method is cuttings and planting in small containers. With regular watering and fertilizing, the seedlings quickly take root, with a survival rate of up to 80%.