How to Start Blueberries From Cuttings

Mix equal amounts of perlite and peat moss. Fill a flat with that blend to ¼ inch from the rim. Water the soil-less medium until the surface feels evenly moist and excess water drains from the container's holes.

Harvest 4-inch-long stems at the end of spring. Take them from the upper part of the shrub and from the tips so you get wood that just grew this season. Select twigs that are still pliable and whose leaves are only half grown. Wrap the cuttings in a moist paper towel to keep them from drying out. Keep track of which end grew closest to the shrub. That's the tip you'll have to root.

Pull the lower leaves and retain two or three at the top end of each softwood cutting.

Scar the lower end of each cutting to make it easier for roots to sprout. Use a paring knife to slice some of the bark off.

Insert the bottom half of the cuttings into the perlite blend in the flat. Irrigate the soil again and spray the cuttings with water.

Slide the flat into a clear plastic bag, and close it to seal in moisture and heat. If the bag collapses, insert a stake in each end of the flat to hold it up.

Open the bag to check the moisture level every day. Water the soil if the surface is becoming dry. Spray the cuttings once a day. New roots sprout within seven weeks.