Rooting Elderberry Cuttings in Soil vs Sand

In this video I show you the results of our rooting elderberry cuttings in soil vs sand experiment. We had a good idea of the outcome, but we wanted to confirm using this year's elderberry cuttings. The elderberry plant cuttings that were started in the soil did not perform as well as the ones started in sand. Starting elderberry plant cuttings in sand allows the roots to grow further unimpeded. The plant can put out a larger root system without battling against soil compaction.

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[taliyona]

We’re in southern Illinois also…would love to come see your homestead sometime…

[Kdstt.]

I planted my Elderberry cuttings directly in the ground here in southeast Tennessee.
I planted them around mid-February 2025.
As of March 23 they have 🍃 leafed out on all their nodes!

[babsblan]

Is it too late to take cuttings from a tree that already has small green leaves starting to grow?

[jeffmeyers]

Can you do a quick follow-up to show us how big these cuttings are right now while dormant? Awesome video by the way, I'm also rooting a few dozen elders.

[joshua]

I put a bunch in by the fenceline but they died since I never watered them! :D. Gonna try again next spring.

[hollybodily]

If I pre-root the cuttings how long do I need to wait to plant in the soil outside? If I plant too soon will frost kill them off? We are in a zone4/5 and go from cold to very warm back to cold and often have a few spring freezes. Also, at what point (temp) is it too late to plant them directly in the soil from cuttings? Thanks!

[bulldogmstewart]

Do you have a video or reference on how you make the elderberry gummies? Thank you.

[michaelwatkins]

How do you contain the growth and spread once established? Elderberry is indeed like a weed and can get out of hand once established. I have a vineyard and produce around 100 cases of wine per year. Interested in elderberry as a blend or stand alone variety but a bit concerned with them becoming unmanageable. Thanks.

[joehenry]

Great advice on the elderberries. A few years ago I got some common elderberry plants. 1 is doing very well. The other, not so much. I have been taking clippings off both plants and have had some success, but not like you are. I used Miracle Grow with a root starter. I will definitely be trying sand next year. I did not realize that there are different varieties of elderberry plants. It looks like the York variety takes hold much better. Is there a difference in the size and taste of the York and the Bob Gordon berries?

[myxochi]

New subscriber here…and totally new gardener. I watched what you did with the cuttings, and now this video 3 weeks on. When do you put them in the ground? Do you just leave them to grow the first year, then next spring I prune them back? I don’t want them to get fruit until they are well established, right? I’m worried that the deer might nibble at them. Any ideas how to protect them? I’m in Ontario in Canada (zone 4, I think). I just received my cuttings yesterday. So, now off to prepare the cuttings, but I may need to buy some of the hormone powder.
Thanks so much for your info. I have a whole lot more learning to do for all of my other seedlings. 🇨🇦

[BeOutsideLving]

Thank you for your video I am getting into elderberry's and I have a question that I can't seem to get answered if I purchase cuttings today from etsy on December 20th 2024 (zone 7) and I put them in sand or potting mix but keep them in my garage which gets no lower than probably 55° with 2 big Windows will they begin to make roots ? thank you

[StephenMeyer]

Im wondering the type of sand being used?

[grandwonder]

Do you need one male and one female elderberry trees to produce fruits? If so, don’t you need elderberry cuttings from different trees to get them to cross pollinate and make fruits?

[joinkansas]

Mine have been in a mix of sand and soil for almost 2 months and no roots! They are leafing out but no roots. Do you know what I am doing wrong? I don't remember if I cut at an angle. Could that matter?

[ismailgurgel]

How much water did you give to it in that 30 days?

[brettwhiteMusicFan]

I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I've taken many cutting from wild elderberry plants. They never develop roots no matter how many videos I watch and follow.

[joehenry]

Did you mix anything in with your sand?

[TheRainHarvester]

My 3 year old elderberry haven't fruited. It's in a shaded area in hot central Texas. About 2' tall. Any ideas?