I have two proliferations on a scape of Red Volunteer, this Fall (the bottom prolif bloomed) and I'm looking for advice on:

1.) How to root them?
2.) How long should the roots be before planting?
3.) Should I grow them in a pot inside or outside, or plant them directly out in the gardens before first frost?

I'm a bit confused.



Thanks

I have three prolifs sitting on my window sill. I cut it off leaving a handle of scape above and below the prolif. I put them in water just up to the shoot of root and let the root grow some. After the root comes down--it is white--I pot it up in regular promix to sit in a southern window for the winter and treat it like a house plant. I don't plant out until after my last frost date. I even had one bloom in the house a few years ago.

This late in the season, I would do what Mary Anne said.

Yes I will, but Raven said: "I put them in water just up to the shoot of root...." Which I understand to mean that roots have already sprouted while still on the scape, before cutting the prolif off, in this instance.

There is no sign of roots on either of them yet. 🤷 So should I cut them off and force the roots in water indoors? And how far should the prolif be emerged in water?

I'd love to do that with my Cheeky Cherry prolifs but since everything has rust, I'm afraid to overwinter it inside. I'm hoping for a good solid winter to kill it off (we're due).

Just have the base of the proliferation touching the water. I put mine down about an 1/8th inch into the water. In your photo, there are tiny nubs showing at the base of the leaves on the proliferation. Those will grow into roots. It doesn't take long, either!

Thanks. Upon closer inspection, I do see root nubs on both of them!

I just take something like the taller cottage cheese containers, pop 4 holes on the side. The holes are about a 1/2 inch up on the side, not the bottom. Side holes allows the potting mix to hold more moisture. On the left prolif, you can see the top cut on the scape. Below the soil, the bottom scape goes almost all the way down. Leaving the scape so long below the soil holds the prolif right at the soil level. Keep the soil moist at all times. Right now its been outside in the shade. As it gets cooler, treat it as a very young seedling...such as a kitchen window. If you worry about water leaking out of the side holes...use another cottage cheese container as a sleeve. I would drop something like a plastic bottle cap in the bottom container to lift the top container up. That little separation boost adds better drainage.

I forget things sometimes. Doing it this way I do not have to check it that often.


Many blessings for a wonderful October full of good surprises!

Great method Sharon! We just bought cottage cheese, so I better get to eating right quick! What we won't do for our beloved daylilies.