I was out helping my mom in her garden, and thought I would try to root a piece of her japanese maple. I cut off a good size piece, and took the bark off the bottom inch or so, and stuck it in a jar of water, do you think it will root?
No, it won't. But, the good news is, that if you take your cutting, make a fresh cut at the bottom and dip it in rooting hormone, then place it in a perlite/vermiculite 50/50 mix and keep it damp, some of the cuttings will likely form roots. If you get roots, gently lift the roots with the p/v mix still attached, place the cutting in a quart pot filled with potting mix (no fertilizer) and keep it damp. After growth is seen, you can start fertilizing with a half-strength balanced fertilizer. You need to keep a tree in a pot for two years, up-potting when you see the first sign of roots coming out the bottom drainage holes. Keep the pots in a semi-shaded area, well-watered, and away from strong winds. Good luck with your little maple!
Hi, Chloe, you do need to leave the bark on the stem. There are also different types of rooting hormone. look for and get, if possible, the kind for rooting hardwoods. It is much more effective than the regular kind that you can get almost anywhere.