- 1). Add sand to a 5-inch-deep flat fitted with drainage holes. Fill the container to within 1/2 inch from the rim. Irrigate the sand until the surface looks evenly moist and excess water flows out of the drainage holes.
- 2). Take 4- to 6-inch cuttings from a vigorous syringa plant one morning in late spring. Take multiple stems, using a pair of shears, to increase the odds you'll end up with one that successfully roots.
- 3). Nick the cut end of each stem with a small knife to facilitate root development. Pluck the lower leaves, retaining one or two close to the tip.
- 4). Dip each stem's cut end in rooting hormone. Moisten it first if you have a powder formula, to make it easy for the chemical to stick to the wood.
- 5). Plant the bottom half of each stem in the flat. Firm the sand around the base of the cuttings to keep them in place.
- 6). Water the sand and spray the cuttings with water. Slip the flat into a clear plastic bag. Seal it to mimic a greenhouse's moist and warm conditions. Insert stakes in the sand to hold the bag up if it collapses. Place the flat in the shade.
- 7). Check the moisture level inside the bag every day. Spray the cuttings with water and irrigate the sand when they begin to dry.
- 8). Gently pull the sand away from the base of the cuttings three weeks later. Look for roots. Continue to monitor root development until the stems have three to five 1-inch-long roots.
- 9). Transplant the rooted seedlings into individual pots filled with potting soil. Introduce them gradually to increased sunlight until they are in full sun all day. Plant 1-year-old Idaho syringa bushes in a permanent location outside.
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