Question
QUESTION: Can I root the Italian cypress from cuttings? If so, How? Do I use the tip? Are they real slow growers. About how much growth will it grow in first year? What type of soil? Is sand okay?


ANSWER: Hi Betty,
Thanx for your question.  Take cuttings of Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)during February. Required dormancy should be complete by this time on the past season's growth. Don't take old wood as part of the cutting.  Use only the past season's wood.  You will be taking a tip cutting two to three inches (5-8cm)in length. Dormancy is satisfied by cold temperatures(35癋/2癈 and below)for at least 6 weeks. Like many deciduous trees and conifers, this cold period is required for breaking the dormancy periods.  Basically, you can root cuttings any time of the year, but your best chances of success are using the guidelines above.  You can use perlite or sand as a growing medium.  There are also professional media available at larger nurseries.  I really don't know how quickly Cupress grows from a cutting.  Many conifers are slow to get started so you may want to use that as a guide.

Here is a guide from North Carolina State University you may find helpful.  
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8702.html

I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I see that you said its best to have at least 6 wks dormancy. I live in central Florida. Not very cold! Occasionally it will dip to below freezing but then right back up the next day. Should I just take my chances? And should I use the hothouse effect?

Thanks
Betty

ANSWER: Hi Betty,
Thanx for the followup.  My brother and his family live in Deltona.  I used to live in Ft. Walton Beach up in the Panhandle back in the 80s.  Central Florida gets sufficiently cold for the dormancy factor.  The Italian Cypress is native to the Adriatic Coast around Italy and coastal Slovenia and Croatia which have moderate climates somewhat like Southern California.  Because Italian Cypress are only hardy down to Zone 7, your zone has a sufficient cold period to accommodate the dormancy.  I know I said temps in the thirties Fahrenheit or single digits in Centigrade but believe me, there are enough cool days in Central Florida to accommodate the dormancy requirement. January can be pretty cool in the Orlando area as I have experienced many times.  While it will warm up to the 60s and 70s in the day, there are a lot of cool nights in January and February that will help you meet the dormancy requirement.  You'll be okay.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tom, what is your opinion of propagating these trees by seed vs cuttings?

Answer
Hi Betty,
Thanx for your question.  The only thing about growing the Italian Cypress from seed is to make sure the trees from which you get the seed are not hybrids.  Hybrid seed does not come true to the parent plant because hybrids are genetically unstable.  If you have fresh seed from a non-hybrid C. sempervirens then go ahead and stratify or cold treat it to break dormancy and then plant.  Do you need instructions?  I can get instructions if you need them.  I hope this helps.
Tom