Elderberries are really easy to root and buying cuttings (or making your own) is a very economical way to produce more plants!
You’ll need a few supplies:
potting mix and pot or prepared garden bed
rooting hormone - you can buy this at a garden supply center or use honey or willow water
glass jar and non-chlorinated water (you can use well water or distilled, or let chlorinated tap water sit for 24 hours before using)
Once you’ve received your cuttings, you’ll notice that one end is cut at an angle and the other is a horizontal cut. The angled cut will be the end that is planted (the rooting end).
There are two ways to root cuttings - in water or in soil. Rooting in water tends to be quicker, but rooting in soil is less work.
To root in water, simply put your cuttings in a jar (wide mouth quart jars work well) and fill the jar with non-chlorinated water. I set the jar in my kitchen windowsill (it gets indirect light) and it helps to remind me to change the water daily.
To root in a pot, fill your pot with soil and push the cuttings in until they are about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way covered. They root best at about 40*, so the corner of an unheated garage or basement will work well. You can tent them with a plastic bag to help keep them from drying out too fast. Once the weather has warmed up, I move them outside to a shaded spot and keep them well watered.
To root in place in the garden, simply push the angled end of the cutting about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way into the soil. I’ve found it best to root them in a well prepared, weed free garden bed. Keep them well watered throughout their first growing season.
Cuttings can take 8 - 10 weeks to begin to root. While I have had great success with rooting cuttings, not every single cutting will develop root growth and thrive. It’s not unusual for me to loose a couple throughout the first growing season.
Elderberries spend their first two or three years developing their root systems, but after that you’ll notice fast growth. Elderberries do well along the edge of woods and need an area 8 to 10 ft wide and about 12 ft tall. You can take cuttings from 2nd and 3rd year growth.
