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"Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Here is my Calicarpa shrub from last summer...
 You can see why it's called "Amythest Beautyberry"...  Here's how it looked in the winter. The berries stay intact until Spring when they drop...  Here's the before and after pruning shots a couple days ago. This is the before shot...  This is the after shot...  Notice the many new leaves beginning to grow?! Let the show begin... : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
In a few weeks I'll be taking some cuttings and rooting them into shrubs of their own, to give as gifts to friends. I'll post my method and procedure here, as well as show some more shots too.
It's best to take cuttings from the new fresh, soft growth, although older woody cuttings will root as well. Misting and covering the shoots while waiting for roots are key to success, as I will demonstrate soon... : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Here is the shrub I showed earlier. Just look at it this morning, less than a week later!...
 Last Monday, it looked like this... : o Here is my 2nd shrub, that also got pruned last Monday and fertilized...  It will soon be time to take some cuttings and begin propagation... : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
wow cool!
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Thanks Amber.
The things are just growing like a weeds. Think I'm going to take some cuttings today and begin propagation. Just in the last week it's grown unbelievably. I'll snip some shoots a couple of hours after watering and fertilizing today, so they'll be swollen with moisture. Bet they root quicky because the shrubs are currently in the stage of vigorous vegetative growth. I'll post shots of the cuttings and my methods soon... : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Last night I mailed some cuttings to some pals so they could try to root their own shrubs. This thread will help them to know what to do...
How to root "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub cuttings: Here's a shot of some fresh and very healthy cuttings I took yesterday from my shrubs. The cuttings are kept in a glass of water until they are planted...  Now you remove the lower leaves at the bottom of the cutting and dunk it in softwood rooting hormone so it's looks something like this...  Then you pot it up into some good well draining soil-less mix. I use a pencil to poke a hole and then stick the cutting in the hole and pack the soil around it. Make sure the soil is previously moistened so the rooting hormone powder isn't washed off the stem...  Now I gently mist the cutting with plain water and put a glass or plastic cover over the top...  Now you wait... Each day I take the cover off and mist the cuttings again, watching for new growth, which usually takes place in 2-4 weeks. I'll keep you all posted. Here's some more cuttings I planted in one big pot. They'll be covered with a large clear plastic bag until rooting takes place...  : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Thank you Sherry......i got my cuttings yesturday and hopefully they do well.
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
I was going to do some gardening but it's just raining too damn hard out there now.
: ( So great you got the cuttings Pen! I think they actually might root ok in a glass of water too, and I'm one for experimenting. I told Bob and I'll tell you also - not to worry if the cuttings don't make it. I've rooted them with success before so I know mine will take and I can send you an already rooted one later, if yours don't. Have fun experimenting. Feel free to cut that one cutting down that looks kind of like a branch. Maybe it will root as is though - don't know. Do what you think is best. Maybe stick a cutting or two into soil however in case the ones in water don't make it. Some cuttings won't root in water, but who knows with these. They might. Let us know... I decided to take the bag cover off my cuttings in the big pot and see what would happen, knowing I have more cuttings right outside the front door if they wilted and died. Here they are with no cover all day today...  : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Both shrubs are looking fantastic today...
  Amazing that I only pruned them such a short time ago. It's not even July and they are already huge! They are going to be massive this summer and loaded with berries. Cuttings are also doing well. : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
My cuttings are doing well Sherr :waving:
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
All of my cuttings have rooted! Here's the ones that were in water for the past few weeks. Just look at the nice white roots this morning...
 : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Very impressive,and very healthy plants you have there! Nice job!
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Thanks Joan, but they're actually quite easy to root I find, as long as you can provide the right environment for them for a few weeks.
Here are 2 of the soil cuttings, showing new growth...   : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
I've rooted those cutting before. They were fun.
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Mine are doing well too, i might have lost one or two that you sent Sherry, but the rest are greatQ!:goteam:
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
So glad to hear they're doing well for you, Pen! :03:
You'll need 2 shrubs for pollination if you want berries, so be sure to establish a pair of them fairly near each other, but they don't have to be super close if you don't want them to be either. They can be pruned and shaped and kept very neat and tidy looking, or you can let them grow like crazy like I do, so there's berries everywhere! Today, I will transplant the water rooted cuttings into soil, but you must watch carefully for wilt. If they wilt, cover them right away. I have a spray called "wilt-proof" and if you spray cuttings with it, they almost never wilt. I don't always use it though because I enjoy a challenge but I think I will today. This will ensure their success. I wish you continued luck & success with yours too, Penny. You really will love these perennial shrubs. : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
The stuff you have called Wilt Proof, where did you find that Sherr?
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Yeah Penny, it's actually called "Wilt Pruf" and I got it at Van Luuks greenhouse on Hamilton Rd at Gore Rd, in London. Maybe you can pick some up next time you're here. This is what it looks like...
 It's a waxy type spray that keeps the plant or cuttings from losing moisture, thereby preventing any wilting. Really great stuff but be prepared to spend 20 bucks for it. You don't use it a lot though so it's not like you have to buy it all the time. It's an excellent product and does what it claims. Works well on Rhododendrons, Evergreens, Boxwoods, Azaleas, Hollies, Laurel and other ornamentals. Excellent for drought and windburn protection. For cuttings and christmas trees too. Hope this helps. : ) |
Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
Nice! Those are what me and my sisters call 'nerds bushes' because the purple berries are oddly reminiscent of those nerds candies. :ha:
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Re: "Amythest Beautyberry" shrub...
You're right.....they do :03:
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