The Gorgeous Tree That Just Needs A Little Bit Of Water To Propagate In The Winter

Buying a plant or tree that propagates easily in water is truly the gift that keeps on giving. All you need to do is buy the plant once, and then you're free to create nearly endless copies of it. It's even better with plants you can propagate from cuttings in the winter, as these cuttings give you something to care for and observe when most of your garden is in dormancy. Red twig dogwoods (Cornus sericea) are a perfect example of this.

Known as a cardinal-magnet shrub that will bring a pop of color to your yard, red twig dogwoods boast vibrant red stems and foliage that changes from dark green to red to purple over the course of the growing season. To propagate these colorful shrubs, all you need is a glass of water and a pair of sharp, clean pruners. While the cuttings will develop roots quite quickly in water — about a week in most cases — it will take years for the plant to become fully mature in the ground.

To propagate red twig dogwood in water, you'll need to start by taking some cuttings from your main plant while it's in its winter dormancy phase. Ideally, you will look for newer stems that are about the width of a pencil and feature a few healthy buds. Using your clean, sharp pruners, cut the stem at the base. Next, clean up your cuttings by removing any extra stems or leaves from them. Then, cut each branch into 6 to 9 inch pieces. Make these cuts right around the leaf nodes to encourage root growth. Finally, place your cuttings in a glass with 2 to 3 inches of water with the buds facing upwards. You can leave the cup somewhere that gets bright, indirect sunlight.

Remember to change the water regularly to prevent any bacteria from developing. Roots should start popping out in a week or so. Once those roots are more robust, you can transplant your cuttings into nursery containers with potting soil. For this, cover the roots with about 4 inches of soil. Keep your cuttings moist and wait for leaves to develop before transplanting into the ground in spring.If you're interested in dogwood but don't like the red twig look, don't worry — there is a wide selection of stunning dogwood tree and shrub varieties that belong in your yard, and you can propagate most of those in water as well.