Skip to content
Buy 1 Bareroot Fruit Tree, Get the 2nd Bareroot Fruit Tree 30% off! Code: 30%OFF (Limits apply)
Buy 1 Bareroot Fruit Tree, Get the 2nd Bareroot Fruit Tree 30% off! Code: 30%OFF (Limits apply).
Find Your Hardiness Zone
rooting cherry tree cuttings in water
March 20, 2025 Alex Dover

Rooting Cherry Tree Cuttings in Winter

If you're considering expanding your cherry orchard, you might be weighing the options of rooting cherry tree cuttings in water or purchasing high-quality grafted cherry trees.

While rooting cuttings can seem like a cost-effective way to propagate cherry trees, it's essential to understand the differences between this method and the more reliable and efficient practice of purchasing grafted trees.

Grafting, a method where a cherry tree cutting (scion) is attached to a rootstock, ensures superior tree performance, faster growth, and better disease resistance.

On the other hand, rooting cherry tree cuttings in water presents significant challenges that can lead to poor results.

In this article, we'll compare these two methods, focusing on why grafting is the better choice for home gardeners and orchard enthusiasts.

What this article covers:

The Benefits of Grafted Cherry Trees

One of the most significant advantages of grafted cherry trees is the reliability and consistency they offer.

Grafted trees are produced by combining a scion (the upper part of the tree that produces fruit) with a rootstock (the part of the tree that supports the roots).

cherry tree cuttings

This method allows growers to combine the best characteristics of both components, such as:

  1. Increased Disease Resistance: Grafted rootstocks are often specifically chosen for their resistance to common cherry tree diseases, giving your trees a much better chance of thriving and producing fruit.
  2. Faster Growth and Early Harvesting: Grafted trees tend to establish themselves more quickly than those grown from cuttings. This means you can start enjoying your homegrown cherries sooner, without waiting for trees to grow from scratch.
  3. Uniformity and Consistency: Since grafted trees are genetically identical to the parent tree, you can be sure that the fruit produced will be of the same size, quality, and flavor every season.
  4. Resilience to Various Soil Conditions: Rootstocks are selected based on their compatibility with a range of soil types and growing conditions, ensuring that your cherry tree will thrive in your specific environment.

Rooting Cherry Tree Cuttings in Water vs. Grafting: A Comparison

Rooting Cherry Tree Cuttings in Water: Challenges and Limitations

Rooting cherry tree cuttings in water may seem like a simple and straightforward method, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Here's why this approach is less reliable compared to grafting:

  1. Slow Root Development: Cherry tree cuttings take time to root and are often slow to develop a strong root system in water. Even when roots form, they may not be as robust as those of a grafted tree, leading to weaker overall tree health.
  2. Higher Risk of Disease and Mold: Rooting in water can create a humid environment that is conducive to mold and bacterial growth, resulting in cherry trees disease. Without careful monitoring, these issues can easily derail your propagation efforts.
  3. Limited Success Rate: Not all cherry tree varieties are suitable for water propagation, and even those that can root successfully may not grow to full maturity. The root system developed in water is often inadequate for the long-term growth of the tree, especially in challenging weather conditions.
  4. Poor Fruit Quality and Yield: Since the cuttings are not genetically identical to the parent tree, there's no guarantee that the fruit produced by the new tree will be as high quality or as productive as the original.
how to grow cherry blossom tree from branch

Why Grafted Cherry Trees Are a Superior Choice

Grafting offers significant advantages over rooting cuttings in water, particularly when it comes to ensuring high-quality, productive, and disease-resistant trees. Here are some of the key reasons to choose grafted cherry trees:

  1. Guaranteed Quality and Flavor: Grafted cherry trees are clones of the parent tree, ensuring that they will produce the same fruit year after year. If you're looking to replicate the flavor and characteristics of a specific cherry variety, grafting is the only way to go.
  2. Stronger and More Resilient Trees: Grafted trees are generally much more resilient than trees grown from cuttings. The rootstock provides the cutting with an already developed root system which means a more vigorous and healthy tree. This is crucial for ensuring long-term success and bountiful harvests.
  3. Faster Fruit Production: While it may take years for a cherry tree grown from a cutting to start producing fruit, grafted trees typically begin fruiting much sooner. For those who are eager to enjoy the fruits of their labor, grafted trees are the clear choice.
  4. Better Adaptability to Different Climates: Rootstocks are selected to be compatible with specific climates and soil conditions, ensuring that your grafted tree will grow well, even in challenging environments.
cherry tree cuttings

Alternatives to Rooting Cherry Tree Cuttings in Water

While rooting cherry tree cuttings in water might seem appealing to some gardeners, it's essential to explore other propagation methods that can yield better results. Here are a few alternatives:

  1. Grafting: As mentioned earlier, grafting is one of the most reliable and effective methods for propagating cherry trees. Whether you're working with ornamental or fruit-bearing varieties, grafting ensures the best possible outcome in terms of disease resistance, fruit production, and tree health.
  2. Air Layering: Air layering involves encouraging roots to form on a branch while it's still attached to the parent tree. This technique can be especially useful for hard-to-root cherry varieties and offers a way to propagate trees without removing cuttings entirely.
  3. Rooting in Soil: Although rooting cuttings in water is a popular method, some gardeners prefer rooting cherry tree cuttings directly in soil. This method may reduce transplant shock and create better conditions for root development. A well-draining, moist soil mix is essential for success.

Conclusion

While rooting cherry tree cuttings in water can be an intriguing option for some, it is not the most reliable or effective method for growing cherry trees.

The challenges associated with water propagation, such as slow root development, increased risk of disease, and inconsistent fruit production, make it a less desirable choice compared to purchasing grafted trees.

Grafted cherry trees offer significant advantages, including disease resistance, faster fruit production, and better adaptability to various growing conditions.

Curious about when to plant cherry trees or how to prune a cherry tree that has never been pruned? Check out our detailed guides for more information!

At Raintree Nursery, we specialize in providing high-quality, grafted cherry trees that are bred for resilience, productivity, and exceptional flavor. Whether you're expanding your orchard or starting fresh, our expert-tested varieties are the perfect choice for home gardeners who want reliable results. For more information on grafting or to browse our premium tree selections, visit our website today.

If you want to learn more about growing cherry trees, check out these additional articles:

Previous article When to Plant Cherry Trees
Next article How Long Do Cherry Trees Live?