Clip 6-inch cuttings from a healthy azalea bush. Cut close to a leaf node because the bottom node is where the new plant's roots will grow. Remove the bottom leaves from the cuttings and discard.
Pour two or three tablespoons of rooting compound into a separate dish. This keeps any diseases from spreading to the entire bottle of compound.
Fill the growing tray with the sterile medium and level out. Poke holes at even intervals in the medium for the cuttings to be planted.
Dip the cuttings into the rooting compound and stick into the holes in the tray. Gently tamp down the growing medium around the cuttings so no air is around the ends. Air contaminates the stem and causes it to rot instead of root.
Mist the cuttings with the spray bottle until the soil is damp but not drenched. Too much water will also cause the cuttings to rot.
Place the tray in a warm, sunny spot but not in direct sunlight. Direct light is too bright for the cuttings and will dry them out too quickly.
Monitor the cuttings for two or three weeks by spraying or misting with water each time the soil becomes dry. If the cuttings start to wilt, they are not getting enough water. When the cutting shows resistance when gently pulled, the roots have developed. The plants can then be transplanted into larger pots or planted directly into the garden.