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Can you take cuttings from young plants?

SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
in Plants
New home, new garden or rather wasteland. The lockdown gave me the opportunity to start building my new garden. I got a lot of plants via nurseries online but only started planting them a few weeks ago. They are therefore all very young and while I am told I should take cuttings now (it's on Monty's and Carol's jobs for the weekend/month), I wonder whether I shouldn't wait till next year once the plants are more established?
Any guidance would be appreciated.

Posts

  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    If they were plug plants, I'd wait until next year........they're probably too small now 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It depends what they are, and how small.
    If they were in 3 or 4 inch pots when you planted them, they're a bit too small. If they were in pots double that size, they might be fine, but it depends what they are.
    If you can give more info, and better still - some photos, that will help  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Monty was talking about rosemary & lavender, which are woody herbs and he emphasised the need to get a bit of the woody part of the stem for the cuttings. This only develops with age so is not possible with young plants. Your little plants need all their energy to make strong roots and they need their leaves to provide that energy, so let them get on with growing for now. If you know someone who has established plants, maybe they would let you take a cutting or two if you really fancy having a go.
    Other types of plant can be used as cuttings at different times, but it is still usually the older shoots that are taken, as the young shoots are too soft and floppy and either shrivel or rot. 
    There are exceptions - you can take cuttings of the new shoots on dahlias when they first emerge in the spring, and young shoots can sometimes be persuaded to root in water: busy lizzies are a good example.
  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    Thank you very much everyone for taking the time to answer my question. Yes, most were plugs, but some in 9cm pots. While some have grown very well, they are definitely late for flowering - my first salvia flower is only poking out now.
    I will heed your advice and wait until next year when they are more established, bigger and stronger.
  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    I had a cutting of a clematis that I'd grown on for a couple of years.  I tied it in.  I checked it tje next day and stood on the roots so broke the stem at the base.

    How clumsy am i?  What a bufoon!

    I immediately potted up the young shoot into three cuttings.  The mangled one in the ground has shooted again so four plants from one.  However all four are vulnerable until next year.
  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    Just confirming that .... It depends!
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