Just recapping on the advice I received about my cuttings and I think I may have made a school girl error....just picked up on something Andyman mentioned (thanks 👍) he puts his cuttings in plastic pots. Went to check mine earlier today and the only ones looking healthy are in plastic pots (as are some rosemary cuttings) all others are in terracotta pots. I'm guessing that the compost dries out a lot quicker and as a result the cuttings don't have enough moisture to encourage rooting? I'm hoping this is the solution, so I've frantically taken some more while the temperature remains warm and rescued the odd one that had managed to produce roots. Fingers crossed this is more successful.....as they say everyday's a school day 😊
Hope I'm ok to pick up this thread again ..... I'm delighted with the results of my second attempt at cuttings. I have 6 different varieties of penstemon in plastic pots and I found a small poly greenhouse to keep them in, mainly to stop them getting waterlogged but also in readiness for any frosty nights ahead. Just after a bit of advice please.... am I better waiting to pot them on separately in spring when I assume they will have stronger root systems (as long as they're easy enough to split) or do it pre-winter? Thanks
Congrats Betty. I know I took my cuttings a bit earlier than you did, but I potted them individually as soon as it became evident that they were growing away strongly. However, I only did this because I have them in the conservatory which can get quite warm during the daytime, and so they still have time to grow a stronger root system before the winter arrives. I'm still watering mine, but I don't feed them at this stage because I don't want them to produce too much soft growth at this time of the year. In previous years I have successfully managed to get them through the winter in a cold frame without potting them up individually. Your cuttings look strong and healthy.
Personally l would leave them as they are as it's getting a bit late in the year. I would water them from below though if they start to dry out, to avoid any danger of rotting. They are looking good
Thanks both, very pleased with how they're looking just now 👍I think I'll leave them as they are until spring, as suggested. I haven't fed them and only been watering about once a week with a mist setting on the hose if the compost felt dry but will probably change to watering from below. Last 2 days have been extremely mild so have opened up the front of the poly mini greenhouse to let the air get in but nights have still been cool. It's got a fleece inner lining so hopefully when the frost does arrive they'll be ok - having said that we had little frost last winter, more of a wet and mild one 😖 so....hopefully next spring I'll be overrun with healthy Penstemon plants!!
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However, I only did this because I have them in the conservatory which can get quite warm during the daytime, and so they still have time to grow a stronger root system before the winter arrives. I'm still watering mine, but I don't feed them at this stage because I don't want them to produce too much soft growth at this time of the year.
In previous years I have successfully managed to get them through the winter in a cold frame without potting them up individually.
Your cuttings look strong and healthy.
They are looking good
I haven't fed them and only been watering about once a week with a mist setting on the hose if the compost felt dry but will probably change to watering from below. Last 2 days have been extremely mild so have opened up the front of the poly mini greenhouse to let the air get in but nights have still been cool. It's got a fleece inner lining so hopefully when the frost does arrive they'll be ok - having said that we had little frost last winter, more of a wet and mild one 😖
so....hopefully next spring I'll be overrun with healthy Penstemon plants!!