How do you root a piece of lilac?

Answer 1

Select cuttings from vigorous, healthy wood, preferably from the upper part of the plant. Avoid excessively vigorous shoots as well as weak, spindly growth.

Softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings should be taken during cool portions of the day. Place the cuttings immediately in a plastic bag to avoid excessive wilting. Cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches long. A slanting cut slightly below a node will generally give best results. Use a sharp, clean knife.

Remove leaves from the lower half of softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings (see Figure 1). Dip the base of the cuttings in a rooting hormone for faster and better rooting. Rooting stimulants are generally available in most garden supply stores. Use as directed.
The medium used for rooting cuttings must be clean and sterile. Diseases are a frequent cause of poor rooting. They may come from containers, tools, workbench or rooting media that have not been sterilized.

The rooting medium should not contain fertilizer. Begin fertilizing after cuttings are rooted and have been transplanted to a growing medium.

Answer 2

What Jen said, only get some root stimulator from a nursery and dip the cutting in that first.

Once the roots start to grow, I'd move it a vase with water and root stimulator until roots are well established.

Transplant to a pot inside, again with root stimulator, and baby it until it starts to sprout new growth. Move outside in the spring, be sure to water it every day for the next two years.

Answer 3

Take a sheet of paper towel and wet it, place the paper towel in a zip lock baggy. Take your clipping from the lilac bush and place it on the paper towel, when the clipping begins to sprout small little roots you can transplant it. Hope this Helps, and Good Luck