I potted on some Penstemon Heavenly Blue today. According to my tag, they were taken on 12/6/18 and they were done in seed compost with sharp sand and that is all. The Penstemon Apple Blossom taken at the same time all died, so that is perplexing.
I have never been very successful with cuttings, but have a good success rate with division. I bought a pot of Aster for 50p last year from B@Q around now, chopped it up and they are thriving.
I feel like hiding away when people say "just take cuttings" because some have the magic touch, and others like me don't and that's after 40 years of trying.
@Lyn So glad you said that Verbena self seed as I have loads growing in the grass next to the main plant or so I think and have potted some up. I thought I might just be nurturing some weeds!
@Lyn Wish I could post photos Lyn but only have a laptop with no means of posting photos. The leaves look exactly the same as the main plant and only appear nearby with no others elsewhere. I shall let you know the outcome!
Great thread 😁. When I first started taking cuttings (and growing from seed for that matter) I was incredibly frustrated at the lack of info out there on ongoing care*. We have all seen the “cut just below a leaf node, strip lower leaves, shove in gritty compost” routine a thousand times, but after that you’re on your own 🤪. No program ever revisits the poor cuttings ever again to show you how to care for them ......all you ever get is shots of next season’s end result of beautifully bulked up and prolifically flowering plants 😇.
I only started succeeding with cuttings once I kept them a) in the shade and b) in an unheated propagator with the lid on and vents closed, until I see signs of growth when the lids come off, but they stay in the shade for a few weeks after that too. For me, without lids the cuttings just droop and die .....even for dry loving plants like lavender.
* that was before I discovered this forum 😁. Now no question goes unanswered 🤓
Great isn't it? I still find cuttings a very hit and miss affair and am having to learn all over again as it's so much hotter and brighter here. Going to try penstemon and gaura cuttings later today. Fingers crossed.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@Obelixx As mentioned above Monty was taking penstemon cuttings so may help you if you didn't watch the programme which is repeated tomorrow morning at 7.30am BBC2 if you're an early riser
I saw that bit. My problem is a change of climate from Belgium to western France so timings are different. 15 month drought last year so no cuttings taken. This year I have plants with fresh young growth so will give it a go.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
I have never been very successful with cuttings, but have a good success rate with division. I bought a pot of Aster for 50p last year from B@Q around now, chopped it up and they are thriving.
I feel like hiding away when people say "just take cuttings" because some have the magic touch, and others like me don't and that's after 40 years of trying.
I only started succeeding with cuttings once I kept them a) in the shade and b) in an unheated propagator with the lid on and vents closed, until I see signs of growth when the lids come off, but they stay in the shade for a few weeks after that too. For me, without lids the cuttings just droop and die .....even for dry loving plants like lavender.
* that was before I discovered this forum 😁. Now no question goes unanswered 🤓