How To Start An Elderberry Bush From Cuttings

Have you ever noticed I have a nice little collection of sticks I’ve been watering on my kitchen windowsill? Well those are no ordinary sticks, what I have here are roadside cuttings from Elderberry bushes. If you remember last fall I did a post on gathering and making things with Elderberries. While I was doing my fall gathering I decided to try my hand at keeping the cuttings to start new bushes from.

I added the cuttings to jars of fresh water once I brought them home. I’ve kept the jars filled with water and anxiously awaiting for a root system to form. Months later, 6 to be exact, they finally had a substantial root system; enough that I felt they were ready to be moved to their next stage, which is up-potting them to soil.

I picked up a few inexpensive pots at the dollar store and used some of my seed starting mix to pot them. I’ll be keeping them on my windowsill until May and then I’ll transplant them outdoors. I was happy to have 60% of the cuttings grow roots. I think that’s pretty good. I didn’t have to purchase the bushes so any that survive is a win.

I noticed some of the transplants even have tiny leaves trying to open up. Now that they’re to this stage I’ll give the soil a dose of fertilizer to give them the extra boost they’ll need to take hold and thrive.

And yes those are also rocks on my windowsill. I have a thing for rocks, if you’re here often you’ve heard me talk about my rock collecting. If I see a rock that strikes my fancy I drag it home with me. It seems like every time I take a walk a rock follows me home.

• Take hardwood cuttings from a healthy Elderberry bush
• Place cut side into a jar filled with water
• Place jar in a sunny location
• Change water once a week
• Be patient
• Once a substantial root system forms, plant in soil during Spring.