A witch hazel bush cannot only be propagated by grafting. There is an easier way. Our three options show how.
Witch hazel is one of the few plants that bloom in winter. As early as January, when the temperatures are quite mild, the shrubs show their bright yellow to red flowers and then bloom into July. The plant is a real highlight, especially in winter, because otherwise there is a lack of color accents outdoors at that time.
The witch hazel is an undemanding plant. However, if you want to multiply them, you need a lot of staying power. It grows very slowly. Otherwise, it's relatively easy to grow a new witch hazel plant.
There are various methods to propagate a witch hazel bush. Tree nurseries and garden centers usually propagate witch hazel (witch hazel) by what is known as grafting. However, this requires a lot of expertise. If you are a hobby gardener and want to breed offshoots, you can propagate witch hazel bushes using seeds, cuttings or lowers. We would like to explain to you in more detail how the individual methods work.
Propagating witch hazel - Here's how
Growing witch hazel from seeds
In autumn, the witch hazel bears capsule fruits containing seeds. Harvest the seeds before the pods rupture and the seeds are lost. However, before the seeds start to germinate, they need a special cold treatment.
The procedure is time-consuming: the seeds have to spend the whole winter in a moist substrate at temperatures between 2 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius. In summer the pot is in a shady place, the substrate must not dry out.
In the second winter, the pot and its contents have to freeze through, so you can keep it in the freezer of your fridge. Only then does the actual germination phase begin. This procedure is called stratification. So if you are patient, you will be rewarded with young witch hazel seedlings in the second summer.
Propagating witch hazel by cuttings
It's faster and safer if you cut cuttings. You can do that in February or indo late summer. If you take cuttings in February, the mother plant needs a lot of light and warm temperatures for it to sprout early.
Rooting requires a warm and humid environment, a heated greenhouse is ideal. Transplanting outdoors should only take place when the rooted plant is strong enough.
Propagating witch hazel by lowering
This is where the success is greatest: With a he althy and strong mother plant, you can use long shoots as a lowering plant.
The shoots must be flexible. Remove the foliage from the single shoot in the center and bend it down towards the ground. Then dig the shoot in the middle about 10 to 20 centimeters deep. The tip of the shoot must protrude from the ground. To keep the dropper in place, secure it with a branch fork or peg.
Scratch the part of the shoot that is in the ground beforehand. This facilitates root formation. Patience is also necessary with this procedure! The soil should be kept slightly moist. When sufficient roots have formed, you can separate the sinker from the mother plant and plant it separately.