Cuttings and uprooting

Pernalla · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:02 am Post subject:

I'm moving house shortly and am wanting to take some cuttings from some garden plants with me, as there are some lovely ones in there I wouldn't want to lose completely.

I've got a huge dark-red smoke bush, a box, choisya and a couple of others I grew from cuttings before. What I'd like help with, is how to do it! It's been a while since I did anything like this and although I'm not the greenest fingered person in the world, I can sort of hold my own

I've also got an acer (now in a pot to take with me) which had a healthy off-shoot near the bottom that I've taken off and would like to root this off too. Oh yes and I've also got loads and loads of lavender (never done anything with it) am I able to dig a ball of this up to pot? Not something I've done before...

Any help GREATLY appreciated!

Thankyou guys xx

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Pernalla

Suzyq · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:04 am Post subject:

Pernella..this site can help you I am sure......

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

Tango Bunny · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:50 am Post subject:

If you are taking cuttings from a shrub then they have to be taken from this years growth.The stem must be supple and not wooded.You take the cutting leaving a heel at the bottom...ie you pull it away rather than cut it,the stems you remove must be ones without a flower.
When potting on you need a good quality compost ....there are some especially for cuttings otherwise John Innis is a good one.
You need to strip the last 2 leaves from the base and then dip in hormone rooting powder.Place in a ready made hole in your compost at the edge of the pot and not in the middle,I usually have about 3 or 4 cuttings to a pot.
Hope this helps
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Pernalla · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the link Suzy, will take a look through that site, looks good.

Thanks for the info Tango, really helpful that and I did buy some of the hormone rooting powder earlier.

One thing (I hope not a dumb question) - I seem to remember that when I did some before, I put the cutting into a cup of water and it started to root and then planted it - is that wrong?

Thanks for your help guys

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Pernalla

Tango Bunny · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:12 pm Post subject:

Depends what type of plant it is....some will root in water especially succulents but others will just start to decay.I think you'r prob best looking each on up individuallt to know which ones you can start off in water
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chocaholicsanon · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject:

rooting powder works good too...especially on hard wood cuttings..stops fungal
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Trish · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:45 pm Post subject:

You can divide the lavender. Take a good clump (go cleanly through the rootball with your spade) & put it in a pot. You can take it with you instead of having to start from cuttings.
For the Choisya, take a semi ripe cutting (new tip, with lower half being harder). Best done this month. Put it in a propagator or cold frame to protect it & keep it warm, but not in direct sunlight, for about a month. Should be fine
after that.

Pernalla · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:20 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone for your help, some really good stuff there, so I will try it all this weekend!

And for the lavender as well, there is so much of it, so pleased I can put it in a pot, much easier! Thankyou.

Spent yesterday evening taking out the little shrubs and plants to take and putting them in pots - they look lovely

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Pernalla