Growing currants from cuttings

I recently had the good fortune to be given a few cuttings from a Golden Currant (Ribes aureum), a handsome berry bush native here in California. Since I'd really like to establish one or two of these shrubs in my backyard, and hopefully enjoy a bountiful currant harvest in the not-too-distant future, I've been carefully trying to get the cuttings to take root.

To figure out the best way to root my cuttings, I consulted the California gardener's bible, Sunset's Western Garden Book. The first step was to obtain some rooting hormone, which you should be able to find at any good nursery. After lightly wetting the stem of each cutting, I dunked it in the powdered hormone until it was thoroughly coated. I then dug a two inch deep hole in a container of damp potting soil I had on hand for the purpose. I inserted the first cutting in the hole, gently pressed the soil in around it, and then did the same for my other cuttings, spacing them a few inches apart in the container.

After lightly watering the cuttings in their new soil bed, I covered the pot with a plastic bag that I secured around the top with a rubber band. According to the garden book, this will help maintain humidity and keep the cuttings moist. Following Sunset's instructions, I've also been removing the bag for a short period each day to give the cuttings some air, and have also been setting them out in the sun in the backyard, on the principle that plants like sun. (A shocking idea, I know.)

It's been a little over two weeks and my cuttings are just beginning to show signs of new leaves emerging. Apparently the emergence of leaves coincides with the growth of roots, so once a few full-fledged leaves have appeared I should have baby currant plants for the garden. I expect it'll be at least another couple weeks before I know for sure if they've put down roots...as you've probably guessed by now, this whole rooting process takes quite a bit of patience. So until I have thriving golden currant plants in my backyard, I'll just have to make do with admiring a photo:

Golden Currant
Ribes aureum

Photo courtesy of the US Department of Agriculture

Related topic: Golden Currant Fact Sheet