Rooting blueberry cuttings from softwood is a quick and reliable way to clone bushes. This method follows the demonstration in Mike Kincaid's video (uploaded October 2020). It uses soft new growth taken in mid-summer. Success comes from selecting the right wood condition, using hormone, and maintaining high humidity.The video shows results after about three months. Softer tip cuttings root best. Thicker or firmer sections often rot or fail.
Materials Needed
- Sharp pruning shears
- Healthy blueberry bush (e.g., Toro variety shown)
- Hormodin #3 rooting powder (or any IBA-based hormone)
- Clean sand as the rooting medium
- Small pots or flats
- One-gallon plastic water bottles (or similar) for covers
- Water for moistening
- Location with bright indirect light (north side of a building in the northern hemisphere)
Step 1: Choose the Right Time and CuttingsTake cuttings in mid-summer (around July).
Select new growth from the current season.
Look for soft, flimsy tips that firm up lower down.
Avoid very limp, fresh spring growth or thicker, woody sections.
The wood should be in a prime growth stage—floppy at the tip but starting to harden.
Smaller diameter cuttings (half pencil thickness or less) root better than fatter ones.
Step 2: Take and Prepare the Cuttings
Cut 6–8 inch sections from branch tips.
Make the cut just below a node for better rooting cells.
Trim the very top at an angle.
Remove leaves from the bottom 4–5 inches.
Leave two leaves (or a pair) at the top.
Moisten the base ends in water briefly.
Step 3: Apply Rooting Hormone
Dip the moist base into Hormodin #3 powder.
Swirl to coat evenly.
Shake off excess.
Let the cuttings sit a few minutes to absorb the hormone.
Step 4: Plant the Cuttings
Fill pots with moist sand.
Push each cutting halfway down into the sand.
Ensure good direct contact with the medium.
Space cuttings apart to avoid leaf overlap and allow airflow.
Water thoroughly after planting to settle the sand.
Step 5: Set Up Humidity and Placement
Cover each pot with a cut one-gallon plastic water bottle.
Push the bottle down into the sand slightly (about half a centimeter).
Leave the cap on initially for humidity.
Place on the north side of a building.
Use bright indirect light (e.g., under overhead skylight).
Avoid any direct sun to prevent overheating.
Step 6: Care During Rooting
Keep the sand consistently moist.
The bottle maintains humidity—no extra misting needed.
Check periodically but avoid excessive disturbance.
Roots typically form over 2–3 months (July to October in the video).Step 7: Check Results and Aftercare
After several months, gently tug to test for roots.
In the video, softer tip cuttings showed strong roots.
About 4 out of 7–9 stayed viable; 2 had solid root systems.
Thicker cuttings often rotted or failed.
Remove covers gradually once rooted.
Transplant to acidic soil.
Grow on in shade initially.
Harden off before full outdoor planting.
Key Tips from the Video.
Take more cuttings than needed—expect some losses.
Softer tips from mid-summer root fastest and most reliably.
Sand provides a sterile, well-draining medium.
High humidity in a simple bottle setup works well.
Cut below a node and let hormone absorb before planting.
Stick cuttings earlier in summer if possible for more rooting time.This approach gives exact clones of the parent bush. Practice with extras improves your results. Since today is March 9, 2026, softwood season is a few months away—late spring to mid-summer. Hardwood cuttings from dormant bushes are an option now if you prefer winter propagation.
