Ray wrote:
I have a tea olive shrub (osmanthus fragrans) and I would like to root some
cuttings.

I've been told that if I stake a low branch into the ground -- leaving the
outer leaves exposed but the stem still attached to the trunk -- that it
will take root, and I can then clip the connection to the trunk and repot
the new plant.

How long should I leave the plant attached before replanting?



you want to give the stem enough time to develop an impressive clump of
roots, then sever it from the mother shrub, and pot it up, or plant it
in it's own spot. Depending on your location and climate, I'd say a
full season should do it. I've done this with Forsythia branches and
fig trees. I've laid down a lower branch, laid a brick on the stem to
keep it touching the soil, piled up soil over where the branch touches
and a few leaves and what not, and then ignored it through spring and
into the end of summer here in Eastern Tennessee. If the roots aren't
as large as I wanted them by fall, I leave the brick intact, then come
true next spring, I remove the brick, the baby plant is ready to be cut
from mama, and there we go! For my efforts now I have a great grand
daughter of a forsythia bush that was planted over 130 years ago growing
in my woods from the grand daughter that was rooted in the same way of
the original just down the end of the family's road where I live off of.
The fig I started I left growing until the following spring, I
severed it, moved it into the edge of my woods as a lark, and forgot
about it and sure enough, there she is, growing just fine at the base of
a Jack Pine! Good luck and keep us posted on the success of your endeavors.

(resist urges to check, leave the brick pinning the branch against the
soil for at least two seasons and if it gets dry, make sure you water
occasionally to ensure it's not stressing, that's why I pile up leaves
on top to conserve moisture and make a nice cozy little environment)

madgardener up on the quite cold ridge, back in Fairy Holler,
overlooking English Mountain in Eastern Tennessee, zone 7, Sunset zone 36