Kitchen Garden Forum

Can this be done ?

Hi Gloworm. Yes, but it is easier from seed, and it depends on the tree, if it was cut several weeks ago it's not likely it will take, they will grow on in tubs but are not happy after a few years as naturally they grow very tall.
The RHS says both,from seed and cuttings, but links don't work they seem to be updating.

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/pro ... px?pid=374

Hello Gloworm
I seem to remember reading sometime ago that they are much better when grown from seed. You are far more likely to get a good sized, evenly proportioned tree.

John

Taking the question literally.

Can a Norway spruce be grown from s twig taken from an established and growing tree to use as a cutting?

I have not heard of this being done. If it was easy then that would be the norm commercially, but I believe they use seed.

Having grown my own for a number of years last year it was a bit of a shock to have to buy one for almost £30 so I decided to plant some more. Got nice little plants that have grown a lot in their first year, bought 6 Norway Spruce and 6 Caucasian Pine and added 4 Scots Fir from our our seed so I have got 16 years sorted eventually, just wondering how long before I cut the first one. Pretty sure they wouldn't grow from cuttings and I try most things.
http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/product_10315.html
http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/product_10189.html

They most definitely cannot be grown from cuttings. They are always grown from seed, which is why there is variation between individuals.

I searched afterwards. What I call the flat conifers, like Leylandii, are quite easy from cuttings but I wouldn't have expected to root the ones more like bottle bushes (that's bottle brushes not the plant). However it looks like it is possible http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/p ... s/1654.pdf though I haven't found Picea Abies or Abies Nordmanniana quoted as working.

When I was a lad I worked in forestry for a few years and planted tens of thousands of the darned things, all of which were raised from seed. Softwoods are generally difficult or impossible to grow from cuttings unless you have specialized equipment and then it's a bit pointless as they take so easily from seed. Cypress/Thuja, etc are an exception and can easily be raised from cuttings. My late father had a nice collection of ornamental cypress grown from cuttings taken surreptitiously from public parks!

It's just that I have several Christmas trees that were planted afer the festivities & are now 20ft+ high, thanks Geoff for your link I think that's the easiest way.

Hi Gloworm,
It is not impossible to take a cutting from a Norway Spruce because the Forestry Commission locally did a series of experiments around 40 years ago and although they could strike the cuttings they could not get them to grow straight and that was useless for timber production so NOW they are all grown from seed. I was taking part in that experiment as part of my training.
JB.

You back from France Johnboy? I hope you enjoyed the break.
It's amazing how easily some stuff roots, even branches stuck in the ground to support peas have grown roots occasionally. We get a lot of sycamore seeds blow into our garden and yesterday I pulled out several seedlings most straight one bifurcated.

Thanks for info JB

I've ordered a few 1-1.5 ft from Geoffs link below

http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

Highly unlikey to grow from cuttings..go for the traditional method of seed, but allow time for germination as they can some time , depends on the species really though.

Hello there,
I don't think that Christmas tree grows from cutting.
Thanks

Hi Liam,
The Norwegian Spruce Tree is the traditional Christmas Tree can be grown from a semi-mature cuttings taken during July and August but the chances of getting a worthwhile Christmas Tree are slim. Norwegian Spruce grown for Christmas Tree production are grown from seed.