How to Root Cryptomeria Japonica Cuttings

Cryptomeria japonica, more commonly known as Japanese cedar, is a hardy plant that often grows 50 to 60 feet tall in an urban setting and can grow to 100 feet tall in the wild. The bark of the Japanese cedar is reddish and peels off in long strips from mature trees. Propagating these trees from cuttings taken in the late summer or early fall is fairly simple, with a high degree of success if certain conditions are met.

• 1

  Cut approximately 8 to 10 inches off the tip of one of the branches of your Cryptomeria japonica and remove any leaves on the lower third of the branch. Mist the cutting and place it in a plastic bag to keep it moist until you are ready to root it.

• 2

  Mix 90 percent peat moss with 10 percent sand in a growing pot and thoroughly wet it. Allow any water to drain out. Use a pencil or your finger to poke a hole approximately 4 inches deep in the growing medium into which you can shove the cutting.

• 3

  Remove the bark on the lower 3 inches of the cutting using a sharp knife. Dip the denuded end of the cutting into a powdered growth hormone and then carefully insert the hormone-covered end of the cutting into the hole you made in the growing medium with a pencil or your finger. Insert at least 4 inches of the base into the soil and gently pack the soil around the cutting.

• 4

  Mist the cutting with your spray bottle and then place a plastic bag over the cutting and the growing pot, to act as a sort of mini-greenhouse.

• 5

  Place the cutting in a warm location (65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) where it can receive plenty of indirect sunlight. Use a heating pad under the growing pot if necessary to maintain a temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the night.

• 6

  Remove the plastic bag on a daily basis and mist the cutting with your spray bottle. Keep the soil damp, but not soggy, and replace the bag.

• 7

  Inspect the cutting after 21 days, looking for signs of root growth. If roots are growing, remove the plastic bag but continue to mist the plant once each day and move it into a window with direct sunlight for at least four to six hours a day. Within three months your cutting should be ready to plant outdoors.