- 1). Take a 6-inch stem cutting from a mature crabapple tree, cutting just below a leaf node with a sharp pair of pruning shears. Cut the stem on a 45-degree angle.
- 2). Fill a paper cup with approximately 1 inch of liquid rooting hormone. Dip the cut end of the crabapple stem cutting into the rooting hormone.
- 3). Press the root cutting into the center of a 4-inch pot filled with a 50/50 mix of damp perlite and vermiculite. Cover the top of the pot and root cutting with a clear plastic bag. Secure the plastic bag to the pot with a rubber band.
- 4). Set the crabapple cutting where it will receive bright, filtered sunlight. Check the crabapple cutting at least once a week for signs of root growth -- usually two to three weeks. Remove the plastic bag as soon as the roots develop.
- 5). Keep the soil around the stem cutting moist as it grows. When the soil dries out quicker than normal or when you see roots growing out of the drainage holes in the pot, it is time to transplant.
- 6). Choose a pot one size larger than the previous pot and fill it with damp organic potting soil. Bury the roots of the crabapple plant in the soil, making sure all foliage is above the soil line. Repeat the process each time the crabapple outgrows its pot. Continue to supply the crabapple with moisture and sunlight.
- 7). Transplant the crabapple outdoors in well-drained soil when the worry of frost is over in your area. Choose a sunny location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. Water regularly with a garden hose to keep the soil moist to a depth of 1 inch.