By Scottish
Edinburgh, Scotland
Shrub cuttings....what do I do next?
Last summer I snipped of a few bits of my neighbours Photinia Pink Marble (?), I stuck them in a pot and left them alone.
Having never done this before - what do I do next?
I assume that because there is signs of growth everything is doing as it should - but now I don't know what to do next and would this be the same as I would do for Physocarpus and Philadelphus - they too are growing new leaves.
Thank you in advance.
- 21 Mar, 2012
Answers
Give them a tug - you should feel resistance if there are roots. I think that there are as you have new growth. You did the best thing in planting the cuttings at the sides of the pot.
21 Mar, 2012
I agree with all of that, Scottish. It's fun to see cuttings coming on.
(Kildermorie - I always put cuttings at the edge, but exactly why does this help them?)
21 Mar, 2012
Well done Scottish .
21 Mar, 2012
my theory is the hormones produced by the shoot tip that travels down to the cut bit cant move away from the pot edge so they are in the right concentration to encourage root growth.
I also find better success if there are 5+ cuttings in the pot.
21 Mar, 2012
I understand that putting them at the edge of the pot encourages them to throw out roots away from the side and they do not get tangled with other cuttings, also busy putting down roots.
21 Mar, 2012
I thought it was the extra heat (heat encourages roots - hence we use propagators) and less compaction of soil. Makes sense that roots are less tangled as well.
21 Mar, 2012
I read the other day that this is a leftover idea from when we used clay pots and it doesn't apply to plastic ones (something to do with the porosity of the clay). However I still put mine near the sides anyway.
21 Mar, 2012
Thanks for all the advice....I put them at the edge because I saw it done like this on TV. I will investigate tomorrow.
I presume I just put them all into little individual pots next am I right?
21 Mar, 2012
Yes you are best to grow them on a little before planting out. I would leave them until May or June but others might feel differently. Once you check they all have roots dump the present lot of compost and put them in new compost. Give them a good watering and then leave them out of the sun until they start growing away in their new homes.
21 Mar, 2012
Thanks Sheila. Ill do that. I was going to be quite happy leaving them in pots for another year or so til they were a wee bitty bigger.
21 Mar, 2012
I've looked this up to see what it is like. I have P. Red Robin which I thought had a lot going for it but this is a beauty with its pink and cream markings on the foliage.
22 Mar, 2012
Yes it's lovely Dobbies want £17 for a small one!! That was why I took the cuttings. If I can get them going one of them has your name on it if you want it
22 Mar, 2012
Thank you and yes please. The website I looked at wanted £27.00.
22 Mar, 2012
Your welcome :)
22 Mar, 2012
can you see any roots coming through the compost? if there are some out the bottom then they need potting on. if not visible through the bottom carefully knock them out the pot. If there are roots through the compost then pot up. if non or very few carefully replace back in the pot and wait a month then look again.
21 Mar, 2012