Almost time to root Brugs, coleus, and all the other good stuff.

As for myself, I rooted some Abutilon 'Fairy Coral Red' cuttings recently. They are doing well. They will bloom through the winter if given good light. Let me know if anybody wants one, hehe .

Just got a bunch of fragrant viburnum cuttings from Francine at the swap (thank you, Francine), and rooted them.

I first soaked them in water to rehydrate them. I also used rooting powder to improve their chance to root (had never used it before). I rooted every scrap of cuttings out of the branches from Francine, including 4 little branch tips that didn't have a single leaf node. I saw it on TV that viburnum roots can grow out along the stems. Does that mean no leaf nodes will be needed at all? Not sure, but it doesn't hurt to test it out.

The ideal time for rooting viburnums is June. We will see if these will take. I rooted 22 cuttings, hoping at least a few will make it.

I like using clear cups for rooting plants, so I can see it when roots develop.


My little "greenhouses" for the cuttings.

God bless you Donner! Please let me know how the viburnums do. I am more than happy to try to root mine next June if that's the best time. She's plenty big enough (given my small area) to take some cuttings and root for folks. I'm tellin' you...I've only had luck with Hoyas and Jasmines. Any helpful hints from anyone would be great. I'd love to share my oldest gardenia with you all but am clueless with the rooting of the hardwood/semi-hardwood cuttings. your greenhouses btw!!

What a good idea using the clear cups, Donner.

Anyone have advice on rooting rhododendron cuttings? Larry was out clearing one of the paths of ivy and cut a bunch of rhodie branches that were sticking out into the path. I was able to separate them so that each piece has a bit of the collar and stuck them in water for now. These are 'common' lavender in color, but I desperately want to root some of me Besse Howles, Capistrano, Henry's Red and Vulcan.

Good work on those, Donner.
I'm eyeballing some coleus for rooting. And I have heard Pentas referred to as an indoor plant. I might try to root some. My Brug Maya is very sluggish this year, but no matter what I will likely take a fat stem piece or two later to root.

Rick, this YouTube video gives great information on rooting Rhododendron cuttings. It seems that the video was made in September or October, which means it is probably the right season now to root your cuttings. Good luck.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=...

That was a nice video--I took quick notes....
Glad to say--that is pretty much how I have done do it---not that I have rooted many Rhodos....
a few....No growing frame (don't have one) just left the pots out all winter in a
protected spot. Yes! thwy did take about 2 years to be growing...

G.

I need to get going on my coleus if I'm going to keep them...I have a large dark red one that's done very well this year.
I have a few small self sown tropical milkweed that would pot easily. I'm not sure it's worth the effort though.
Maybe I'll just see what fits under one light shelf and leave it at that.

Was just thinking that about the scented geraniums. Seriously considering taking cuttings and starting fresh for next spring...hmmm

I like taking cutting when plants get sort of big and would nee repotting soon. Then carry over a smaller plant thru winter although earlier in the year would be better to think of that

Yup was literally just thinking that...ugh

I have a Rhododendron ‘Fantastica’ which produces very pretty flowers. It is not a big plant, but it now has one branch that doesn't have flower buds on and can be used as a cutting. I probably will try to root it just to see what happens .

The Abutilon cuttings have all survived. I have started to see their white roots through the clear cups . The Viburnum cuttings are not doing well. Quite a few of them have dropped all the leaves . We will see if at least a few of them can make it.

Sally, tropical milkweed seedlings should do fine staying in the ground over winter. You may want to label them so that you know where they are next spring.

My Tropical MW is on it's 3rd year outside. It has come up (even if it is late) every year.
I think I read here...somewhere--that they do come up late.

The Swamp MW especially. G.

Donner - do you just use plastic drinking cups with holes punched?

thanks for that info re tropical milkweed! I have two sunny beds that they should surely be hardy in, then.
Taking cuttings is like eating potato chips.You can't just do one.
I took a couple coleus, and a couple pentas cuttings, to try.

I have red and white Pentas in my AC bed. Would be nice if they could carry over.

Sally--do you just take cuttings of the pentas like one would of coleus?
Never tried it....
Hmmm---time to, maybe, take some coleus cuttings. Oh, woe! They DO take up a lot of room.
OK--Off to an early day at work! G.

Chantell, yes, they are just plastic drinking cups. I collected them after office parties. I know they are not expensive to buy, but I am just trying to reuse some of the plastics .

I think it's brilliant!! I loved Jill's mini greenhouse using the McDs plastic cup w/dome lid.

You can use the plastic containers that rotisserie chicken comes in as a mini greenhouse as well.

I recycle everything....ad nauseum....

I use a lg. cake lid, with a slit cut into it on top for the hook, as a baffle on my Finch feeder.
The bakery dept.'s as well as the produce containers are a gold mine for other uses.

Gita