I guess I can not root encore azaleas ?

16 years ago

Two years ago I planted about 50 Encore Azaleas along the back of my garden. last year I planted 15 around the base of two big Oak trees. I had to dig them up because the trees were sucking up all of the food that they needed. They were in pretty bad shape. I put them back in pots until I decide where to replant them. The guy where I bought them told me to cut them back.

I cut them as he told me. Then I thought, why waste the cuttings. I got some small pots, put root tone on the end of the cut stems and planted a couple 100 of them. That has been about a month ago. I have them in my greenhouse and have kept them watered. Most of the cuttings have turned brown, but some are still green. I have not pulled any up to see if there are roots.

I am a very new gardener, any chance of this working ?

Featured Answer

gardener365

16 years ago

Here's some info I grabbed from a forum:

I grew up propagating azaleas & camellias with my dad. Ideally, you need semi-hardwood growth - usually collected in late June/July in central AL. They're easy to do. Just collect those cuttings, strip off all but the top 3 or 4 leaves, dip the basal end in your choice of rooting hormone, and stick in your rooting medium - we had a raised rooting bed in the back yard, in full shade - located between the back of the house and two big cherrybark oaks, a 50/50 mix of clean sand and peatmoss. Watered the cuttings daily.
Left them in the bed over winter, lifted & potted up the next spring.

-------
A Nearing Frame would be ideal whether you live in a colder climate or a warmer climate such as this person does. In a winter-cold climate, you'd keep the cuttings covered such as in this photo:

{{gwi:385065}}
*Note - the back side is tall, apprx. 6'+ and faces due south. Excellent planting media's: 3 parts perlite to 1 part peat moss, or, pure sand with/without pea gravel; sand with some peat moss (Azaleas/Conifers/Maples etc- "Acid-loving plants" - will appreciate the acidity the peat moss - naturally, brings).

Good liquid, rooting hormones:
1/10 Dip n' Grow
Woods 1/10 or 1/15 depending on more-difficult to root woody plants. Strip the basal leaves off - no need to wound with a knife - hold in the rooting compound for 15 seconds and then stick them in your media.

Adding mycorrhizae to your media I'm a firm believe in. You can either water it in, or mix it in as a powder into your media(s).

Best of luck,

Dax

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Comments (11)

rolacoy
Original Author
16 years ago
Sorry, after posting this I found a posting that had all of the information that I needed. It seems that I did nearly everything wrong, but I may get some plants to root, we will see. I am very new at planting things. I am good at building things and most of time I just get a bigger hammer, that does not seem to work with plants, or my wife. lol

Here is a link that might be useful: The Garden
jay_7bsc
16 years ago
I think Encore azaleas are patented, which means that it is against the law to propagate them asexually.
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rolacoy
Original Author
16 years ago
You surly jest. Maybe if I was selling them, but surly not for my own use.
jay_7bsc
16 years ago
Dear rolacoy,
I think you would have to peruse patent law to determine its intent or consult a patent attorney.
ozzysboy
16 years ago
Hate to break it to you, but Jay_7bsc is correct--it's not triggered by an intent to sell, but rather asexual propagation itself--absent a license from the patent holder--is illegal. During the life of the patent, the patent holder excludes all others from the right to asexually reproduce the plant AS WELL AS use, offer for sale or offer any of its parts for sale. You purchased the right to use the plant from the patent holder when you bought the plant, but that's it. If you want to LEGALLY reproduce the plant, you need a license from the patent holder.

That doesn't mean that people don't asexually reproduce patented plants without a license and get away with it; the policing of plant reproduction isn't a hot-button issue for law enforcement, but patent law does apply nonetheless.
HU-660533721
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
For those who are worried about patents, once the patent expires you can do WTH you want with your Encore azalea cuttings. The patent on the first Encore variety has long expired. But, new varieties continue to be created. If you’re curious, just look up the patent information listed on the label.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
Not sure how valuable it is to "update" a 14 y.o. thread, especially with dubiously accurate info, but the first Encore azalea was patented in 1998. And since a plant patent is effective for 25 years, the first patented Encore azalea has only just reached the end of its patent period. So not at all "long expired".
HU-660533721
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/apply/plant-patent
HU-660533721
2 years ago
@gardengal48. Yes, it’s not valuable to update a thread with dubious information. Patents do not last 25 years. Patents last, “no longer than 20 years from the date that the patent application was filed, and no shorter than 17 years from issuance.” I’ll concede that ”long expired” may not feel as long to some as others, age being a factor. In any case, patents for varieties of encore azaleas applied for before 2005 (of which there are several) have expired or are expiring this year. As you pointed out, the OP posted 14 years ago. So, it’s likely the patent on his/her azaleas has either expired or may be expiring soon. As I mentioned in my original post, if in doubt, check the patent listed on the label.
Jordan (z7)
2 years ago
“And since a plant patent is effective for 25 years . . .”

Plant patents in the United States last for 20 years from the date of filing, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In the context of patents, a patent that expired in 2020 would be considered long expired, as it has been several years since its expiration.