- 1). Take hardwood cuttings of the crape myrtle tree in early winter, just after the tree has gone into dormancy. Cut at least two 8-inch-long pieces of healthy wood from a branch about 1/2 inch in diameter. Take more cuttings if you want multiple trees; taking two increases the likelihood that at least one of them will root properly.
- 2). Fill a 6- to 8-inch diameter planting pot with well-draining potting soil, vermiculite, or equal parts sand and peat moss. Dampen the soil mixture so that it is thoroughly moist but not soaked. Use a separate planting pot for each cutting.
- 3). Dip 1 inch of the cut end of the cutting into rooting hormone, then bury it in the planting pot. Store the cutting in an area where it will receive filtered sunlight for five to six hours daily and where the temperature is at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 4). Move the cutting into a full-sun area once you see new growth start to sprout. Water the soil in the planting pot any time the top 1 inch feels dry to the touch. Keep the plant there until soil temperatures outdoors reach a steady 60 degrees Fahrenheit, then transplant outdoors to your garden.
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