stem cuttings

Check them after 6-8 weeks, but as its now coming up Autumn, you may have to leave them like that for some time to keep them protected during the winter, if you don't have a cold frame.

hi bamboo
thanks for that - really helpful. lets hope they survive. i did root cuttings last year and they rotted away?

Funnily enough, I've done exactly the same today with a euonymus emerald n gold! First time I've ever done it. I was encouraged by Crazydi's blog giving instructions. However, it was done a bit on the hop and I didn't have rooting powder, nor perlite. Is there any chance, therefore, that they will take, or am I wasting my time without these ingredients?

I dont think you are wasting your time Jan, especially with euonymus...the strike very easily.....I have never used rooting powder, but i do think perlite or vermiculite help...good luck

It's worth a shot, hormone rooting powder or not, it's not the end of the world if they don't take. I never used perlite or vermiculite, just used to use silver sand and seed compost mixed together, and it worked anyway. If you're worried about rotting, I found green sulphur dust quite useful.

Thanks Motinot and Bamboo for your encouraging words. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they take.

I would check a little before 6 to 8 weeks myself, I reckon that most things root within a month (under my system at least).
One tip is to blow in the bag when you are re-sealing it. the carbon dioxide and warm moisture help no end. Remember that cuttings still need light to photosynthesize so keep them shaded, but not in the dark.
I have just been potting up some conifer cuttings which went in about 6 weeks ago and some Daphnes which went in a little before that.
Generally most of the things I do take less than a month to form roots. Mind I do mine in a sand bed in the greenhouse. Never use rooting powder either. It goes off very quickly once you open the packet.

Please forgive what might seem a very daft question, but - how can you tell if it's rooted? And - probably another daftie - do you need to water before you check at the 6-8 weeks stage (or whenever) or does the poly bag create enough moisture? Obviously you can tell I've never done this before!

The only daft question is the one you did not ask when you could have done. (Smile)
Two ways of checking to see if something has rooted, 1. Gently try to pull the cutting from the compost, it if is reluctant to move then it is beginning to root. 2. New growth is often a sign of rooting.
As long as you are gentle, if you pull the cutting from the compost and it has no roots then you can put it back and refirm and no harm done.
You should not need to water the compost again as long as the bag is reasonably air tight.

Just as another additional comment, a few weeks ago I pulled up a load of cuttings because the sand was so infested with liverwort I just had to do something about it. When the sand was cleaned and fresh put on top, I put the cuttings (Phlox subulata types) back in. I have just spent the morning potting them on and well rooted they were too. Do not recommend it, but you would be surprised at how tenacious of life some things are.

Owdboggys right, really, perhaps you should check the cuttings after 4 weeks - its still quite warm, which is what helps them to root quicker.

Thank you Owdboggy and Bamboo for your advice - this is much appreciated, and I hope that my cuttings take and I have some nice new euonymuses (euonymii?) for next year.