How to Propagate Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow Plants
The yesterday-today-and-tomorrow plant (Brunfelsia pauciflora) is also known as the Brazilian raintree. The shrub is a native of Brazil and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 12, although some plants have been known to survive in hardiness zone 8b. The shrub produces flowers during the summer that bloom in shades of purple and turn lavender and then white as the flowers fade. The flower clusters contain about 10 blooms each. Propagation is done through tip cuttings off the current season's growth.
Fill a garden flat with a mixture of one part coarse sand and one part vermiculite. Moisten the planting medium thoroughly and allow the flat to drain. Make holes in the sand about 5 inches apart and 3 inches deep.
Cut several tips off the stems of the Brazilian raintree that were produced during the current year. Make the cut just below a leaf node so the stem section is about 6 inches long and contains at least two or three leaves. Cut the top leaves horizontally to a length of about 3 inches. Remove the remaining leaves by stripping them off between your finger and thumb. This makes the size of the cuttings more manageable for the planting tray.
Dip the Brazilian raintree cuttings into rooting compound so the bottom 3 inches of the cutting are well coated. Shake off the excess compound or tap the stem cutting gently so the excess compound falls off. While the compound stimulates root growth, the fungicide in the formula can inhibit root formation.
Stick the Brazilian raintree cuttings into the planting mixture and firm the mixture into place so the cuttings stand on their own. Water the cuttings from the bottom so the leaves do not get wet. Place the tray into a clear plastic bag and seal it with a twist tie to create a propagation tray.
Place the cuttings on a garden heat mat in a bright location. Keep the tray cuttings out of the direct sunlight. Check the cuttings daily and remove any that die or suffer from mold. After about four weeks, check for new root growth by gently tugging on the top leaves. Roots will cause the cuttings to resist the pull. Remove the plastic and continue to grow the Brazilian raintree cuttings until a root ball forms that contains a healthy network of roots.
Transplant the new plants into separate containers and grow indoors in bright light. When the shrubs grow to 12 inches high or more, move them outdoors. Stake the trees to mark their location so there is no danger from weeding or mowing. Keep the new plants protected during frosts or when the temperature falls below freezing.