Buxus cuttings

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I bought my first Buxus marginata from Hopetoun Garden Centre away back in the early eighties (1980’s). I had intended to grow it in the old cold water storage tank which was removed when the house was replumbed. We intended to build it in to a wall we were building. I was advised to forget using the tank as a liner and to plant in to the shape we had made using the tank so that the plant could sink its roots well below the danger of being killed by frost. I am now training that first bush as a bird using my not brilliant skill in topiary. I bought a second bush a few years later and will try and shape it too. For many years I discarded the trimmings but a friend asked if I could grow some cuttings for her. I have propagated loads of bushes since then. My most recent batch should have been potted in April having been taken in September last year. Today I decided to pot some of them up. From a batch of 6 I got three with first class roots. One with the beginnings of two roots and another two still looking fresh and healthy but no roots. I have potted up the best three in individual 3" pots, the one with less roots in a 2" pot and the other two I have repotted into fresh compost. I could have ditched them but they do look alright, just taking longer to get going. I took some photos. I hope these are helpful. I’ll try and remember to photograph their progress. I still have several pots to pot on. I will need to take the time to do it. Now that these are potted on the roots seen here will develop tiny hair roots to allow the plant to take up water and nutrients. Often the roots will start to show coming through the holes in the bottom of a pot and you will know its time to move them in to better accommodation.

• 8 Jul, 2014
• 7 likes

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