Getting to the root of rhododendrons

Layering is a natural process by which many plants propagate themselves.

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Q Is there a fairly simple way to create more rhododendrons from the plants I have?

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A. There is an easy way for home gardeners to propagate rhododendrons, provided the shrubs have low-hanging branches. It is called “layering.”

Layering is a natural process by which many plants propagate themselves. Ivies, for example, layer themselves by forming roots wherever they make contact with the ground.

When low branches of shrubs such as flowering quince and hydrangea become heavy enough to rest on the soil, they will often form roots at those resting spots. Rhododendrons will do the same. But a little manipulating by the gardener will help to ensure rooting and also produces a clone of a desirable size.

The first thing is to survey the parent plant for a likely branch growing close to the ground. Gently lower it towards the ground to determine which leaf joint should become the contact point with the soil. This chosen spot is usually from midway on the branch to one-third of its length from the tip.

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Loosen the soil where the branch is to be buried. Mix in some compost or potting mix and a little bone meal. Remove the leaves at the joint to be set in the ground, and make a cut part way through the joint’s underside. Set the wounded portion 10 cm deep into the prepared soil.

Place a rock or brick over the planted portion to hold it firmly in place, and water the area with a liquid fertilizer. If a shrub layer made this spring or early summer is successful, roots should have formed by next spring. Then the rooted layer can be severed from the parent and planted.

A variation on this method is to make the layer in a pot. Fill a 15-cm or 20-cm wide pot with planting mix and bury the pot up to its rim directly under the leaf joint to be buried.