Propagate Siberian cypress from a semi-hardwood cutting in summer. Root it in a soilless mix under humidity until the stem tugs back.
Take a semi-hardwood cutting in summer
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Summer, once this year's growth has started to firm | Do not wait until the sprays have already bronzed for winter |
| Wood | A healthy tip cutting about 4 to 6 inches long, with some firmer wood at the base | Do not take a soft, floppy flush or a leafless old stick |
| Tool | Clean pruners; dip the cut end in rooting hormone | Do not crush the stem with dull blades |
Siberian cypress roots from stem cuttings more reliably than from seed. Take the cutting in summer, when new growth has started to harden. [1] Nurseries start this plant the same way, from rooted stems rather than a packet. [2] Site and later watering for a finished plant live on How to Grow Siberian Cypress.
- In the morning, cut a healthy tip 4 to 6 inches long, with firmer wood at the base.
- Strip the lower sprays so you have a clean stem to insert, and keep the top sprays attached.
- Dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
- Insert the cutting at once into a moist soilless mix. Do not let the cut dry on the bench.
When do I take a Siberian cypress cutting?
In summer, once this year's growth has started to firm. Soft spring flush and winter-bronze wood both root poorly.
Root it in a soilless mix under humidity until it tugs back
Use perlite, coarse sand, vermiculite, or a mix of those, not garden soil. Keep the mix moist, not soggy, and cover the pot so the air stays humid. Indirect light and a room around 60 to 70 F are enough. [3] Evergreen cuttings can sit a month or longer before they root. When a light tug meets resistance, ease off the cover over a week, then move the new plant into a small pot of a mix that drains. [4] Set that young plant out only after it holds in the pot — the hole and spacing live on Planting Siberian Cypress.
- Fill a pot or tray that drains with a soilless mix, and water it so it is moist, not dripping.
- Insert the cutting, firm the mix, and cover the pot with a clear dome or bag so humidity stays high.
- Keep it in bright shade. Check that the mix stays moist and that the cover is not cooking the sprays.
- When a light tug meets resistance, usually after several weeks, open the cover a little each day, then pot the rooted cutting on.
How long do cuttings take to root?
Often several weeks, sometimes two or three months. Wait for a tug that meets resistance before you take the cover off.
If a cutting rots, the mix stayed wet or the cover cooked it. Keep the mix moist, the air humid, and wait for a tug before you pot it on.
FAQ
Can I grow it from seed?
You can sow in a seedbed in autumn, but cuttings are the reliable home start. Seed is slower and less even.
Can I layer a stem on the ground?
Usually no. The sprays trail from a central crown and do not root as they go. Take a summer cutting instead of waiting on a layer.
Can I divide the carpet?
This plant spreads from a crown with long stems. A cutting is cleaner than trying to chop a woody mat.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/11110/microbiota-decussata/details - [2] Cornell Woody Plants Database -
https://woodyplants.cals.cornell.edu/plant/155 - [3] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/microbiota-decussata/ - [4] Trees and Shrubs Online -
https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/microbiota/microbiota-decussata/
This note is part of Microbiota Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors