Gardenia not layering

14 years ago

About a year ago, I bent one of the branches of my Gardenia to the ground and laid a brick on it. It was DRY last summer, but we've had decent rains at fairly regular intervals for the past few months and there is NO sign of roots from this attempt. The brick is laying over a junction of nodes near the tip of the branch, with about 6" of leafy tips sticking out. Does it just need more time? Should I dig a little and bury it more? More moisture during the summer? If you think this will never root this way, what's the most lazy way you know to get a start of this plant going? Trying to not have any more potted cuttings to monitor daily...

Featured Answer

Nick Zachetti

11 years ago

I have always had success with this method.

I take a large branch near the ground. Place a bucket of semi-sand dirt from the area where the plant grows so that I know it likes that type of dirt.

The branch I choose has a section where there are many limbs sprouting out. mostly reasonably new. I have the bucket half filled with dirt, push the limb into the bucket, making a "U" shape. the bottom of the U, is where the larger single stem and the multiple stems divide. Then cover with 5 or so inches of dirt and a large heavy brick or two to keep it in. Water - drench it, a few times a week to keep the soil moist. (dried roots die), which may be your problem.

Patience is important. Wait as long as you can. It isn't like the new plant will suddenly become a huge plant because you moved it. The longer the better.

I left mine for a few months and I had many many 8 inch roots everywhere. It was a beautiful root system. The thing is, that one pot with those multiple branches, created 6 plants. ANother bucket made 8 plants.

The amount of newer limbs off of the original harder limb will indicate the amount of new plants of course.

Do five or six buckets. wait two or three months and check one. if there isn't roots, put it back and don't check/distrub the others. If that one happens to fail, you still have four or five others with three months already growing. Not having to start over is very nice.

Enjoy and happy planting.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
My gardenia has many stems under the soil and has never rooted any of them. You may have to cut the stem where it is under the soil to cause it to root. Al
peggiewho
14 years ago
I have never rooted a gardenia but many plants will root that way. It needs to be moist and digging it in a little might help to keep it moist. You should wound the branch a little to get access to the undifferentiated cells. I'd also lean towards using a younger branch. Darn a year and no roots. I don't think of gardenias as fast moving plants so it would take some time to root. I would call it the patient method rather than the lazy method. Mostly I root clematis this way. I also gradually bury things like rangy old dusty miller to get starts.
Related Professionals
Panama City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Clarksville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Beatrice Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · New York City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Murrieta Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Gaithersburg Landscape Contractors · Cookeville Landscape Contractors · Bridgeport Landscape Contractors · Kalispell Landscape Contractors · Provo Landscape Contractors · Victoria Landscape Contractors · Vicksburg Architects & Building Designers · Houston Architects & Building Designers · Rochester Architects & Building Designers · Yuba City Architects & Building Designers
lavernialadybug
14 years ago
I usually use the method of doing upward cuts on the branch about 4-6" long, insert a broken toothpick under both sides and wrap it with wet spaghnum moss. Then I wrap that with aluminum foil and water about once a week to keep the moss damp. It usually takes about 4-6 weeks for it to root. My son-in-law thought I was a bit strange when he first saw my gardenia with the foil, but after showing him the roots on the cuttings, he relaxed.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the replies!
Nick Zachetti
11 years ago
The bucket method is more convenient than in the ground as you don't have to distrub the roots to get it up. Cut the bucket or just moisten around the edges only and slide out horizontally.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL thanked Nick Zachetti
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
Original Author
11 years ago
TY for the replies!

I did end up having success with cuttings, but gave up on that particular layering attempt. I think the soil in the spot I chose wasn't good.

One of the babies that came from successful cuttings could lend itself to more attempts now, only a couple feet tall & flexible still - and the bed around that is much more established. The soil has been building from added organic matter for about a decade. Will report results if attempted.

Nick, I know what you mean about sliding out a nice root ball, love that! And I also hate to have too many pots to tend during summer. Having options to consider is always great!

Cheers to successes this summer, everyone!