Gardening > Taking Cuttings
An old friend of mine never used to go anywhere without a pair of nail scissors and a plastic bag. This was so she
could take cuttings from any shrub or plant in gardens or parks she visited. This practice is much frowned upon now for obvious reasons but the fact remains that popagation is a cost free alternative (with the permission of the gardener)
to buying expensive plants from garden centres. The methods of propagation, which are different for various types of plant, enable you to increase the stock in your garden and to swap plants with friends and neighbours.
Remove the lower leaves.
Dip in rooting hormone.
Plant in rock wool cubes or cutting compost.
Place in a propagator at 65 degrees F. OR place in pots in inflated plastic bags and set on a warm (not in direct sunlight) window sill.
Rooting should take place within 4 weeks.
Pare back the heel of bark to about 1/8" from the base of the cuttings.
Dip in rooting powder or liquid.
Plant in rock wool cubes or gritty compost.
Place in closed cold frame and mist daily OR place in pots in plastic bags on a warm but slightly shaded windowsill.
Make a gently sloping cut just above a top bud.
Make a horizontal cut below ajoint at the bottom.
Dig a thin trench 4" - 6" apart to half their length.
Firm soilaround them by treading.
Re-firm soil if frost lifts cuttings.
Move cuttings to final home the following autumn.
If you have any questions you want to ask or any information you want to share please visit our friendly community forum.
Here are some of the topics being discussed at the moment:
- Organic Gardening Home Page
- Buy Gardening Books in The Green Chronicle's Book Store.
- See other Gardening Websites in The Green Chronicle's Directory.
- Visit The Green Chronicle Shop for seeds and garden products.
Comment Script
Taking Cuttings
Softwood Cuttings
This method is best for geraniums, fuchsias, perstemons and some house plants.Time
Late spring/early summer.Method
Cut 1 1/2" - 3" side shoot cutting just below a leaf joint.Remove the lower leaves.
Dip in rooting hormone.
Plant in rock wool cubes or cutting compost.
Place in a propagator at 65 degrees F. OR place in pots in inflated plastic bags and set on a warm (not in direct sunlight) window sill.
Rooting should take place within 4 weeks.
Semi-ripe Heeled Cuttings
Hardy shrubs and conifers.Time
Mid-summer/mid autumn.Method
Pull a maturing side shoot (that is becoming woody at the base) from the parent stem. These should be 1" for heaths and heathers and up to 4" for conifers.Pare back the heel of bark to about 1/8" from the base of the cuttings.
Dip in rooting powder or liquid.
Plant in rock wool cubes or gritty compost.
Place in closed cold frame and mist daily OR place in pots in plastic bags on a warm but slightly shaded windowsill.
Hardwood Cuttings
Willow, dogwood, privet and many hardy shrubs, gooseberries, white and black currants.Time
October.Method
Cut 8" - 10" current-year fully mature shoots.Make a gently sloping cut just above a top bud.
Make a horizontal cut below ajoint at the bottom.
Dig a thin trench 4" - 6" apart to half their length.
Firm soilaround them by treading.
Re-firm soil if frost lifts cuttings.
Move cuttings to final home the following autumn.
The Green Chronicle Community
If you have any questions you want to ask or any information you want to share please visit our friendly community forum.
Here are some of the topics being discussed at the moment:
- Organic Gardening Home Page
- Buy Gardening Books in The Green Chronicle's Book Store.
- See other Gardening Websites in The Green Chronicle's Directory.
- Visit The Green Chronicle Shop for seeds and garden products.
Post this page to:
Comments
Please enter your comments or questions in the form below. All entries are manually approved before being published so it may be a while before you see your comment on the page.
Powered by Comment Script
