How to Propagate Plum Trees
Plum trees grow from seed or propagate through cuttings or grafting. Plum trees from seed may not grow true to seed if the plum is a hybrid variety. Propagating by plum tree cuttings is more reliable and produces a fruiting tree much sooner. Plum trees from cuttings do as well as grafted trees and come into production sooner. The recommended method of plum tree propagation is from cuttings. Take a cutting from the plum tree in the spring when the first flower buds appear.
Choose a shoot approximately an eighth-inch in diameter and cut off a piece 6 inches long. Remove all but the uppermost three or four leaves.
- Plum trees grow from seed or propagate through cuttings or grafting.
- Propagating by plum tree cuttings is more reliable and produces a fruiting tree much sooner.
Remove the bark from the bottom inch of the cutting.
Place the cutting in a damp rooting medium made of equal parts peat and clean sand.
Maintain high humidity with a humidifier or by misting the cuttings. Keep the rooting medium moist but not wet.
Allow five to seven weeks for the cuttings to develop a good root system. When the roots are established, gradually reduce misting, allowing the plants to harden off. Water only when the surface of the rooting medium dries out.
- Remove the bark from the bottom inch of the cutting.
Transplant the cutting into a pot of potting mix. Grow the plum tree in the pot in a sheltered place for the first year, then transplant the year-old plum tree into the ground.
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Diane Watkins has been writing since 1984, with experience in newspaper, newsletter and Web content. She writes two electronic newsletters and has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Clemson University. She has taken graduate courses in biochemistry and education.
