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When do I stop / reduce watering?

CamelliadCamelliad Posts: 402
in Problem solving
I have lots and lots of cuttings in pots in a little Wilko blowover which is up against a warm wall. I will cover with bubble wrap when it gets cold, but it never really gets super cold - we're in the SE. When should I reduce watering? I moved lots of pots into our garage last year but my mistake was leaving them too wet - they never dried out properly and then rotted. I'm not sure how to do it this year. Any advice gratefully received.

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited October 2020
    They need very little watering as temps cool, and they won't dry out rapidly in lower temps either. Cuttings/seedling especially, or small plants, are better on the dry side. Also depends on the individual plant too. 
    Garages would rarely be any good - too dark.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I just realised I 'd missed a bit of my post so I edited, but it's what @philippasmith2 is saying too. Dry cold is better for small plants than wet cold. 
    Making sure they are in a suitable medium is also a factor. Heavy compost/soil mixes are never a good idea at this time of year. Nice gritty, free draining mix, which helps them avoid water logging.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CamelliadCamelliad Posts: 402
    Thank you both. That's helpful. Cuttings - I have a mixture of hardy and tender - Bloombux, salvias, verbena, pelargoniums, hebe, pittosporum, euonymus, thunbergia, lavender. Also lots of seedlings although they are indoors for the time being. 

    Based on your advice then what I will do is keep them in the annoying flyaway plastic greenhouse and weight it down, stop watering now and let it all dry out. Water a little only when very dry or starting to droop. I will try this, thank you!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Pelargoniums are certainly a bit different from those hardy plants, but it might be ok where you are.  :)
    Just keep an eye on that plastic doofer. If it's windy, and they get torn, they just rip completely. I had washing line tied round mine when I had one, and fastened to the fence or the railings on the steps. It was the only way I could keep the cover on.
    I decided to get a better growhouse to avoid the problem  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CamelliadCamelliad Posts: 402
    Thanks @Fairygirl, yes I have my eye on a little glass and wooden growhouse for next year. Stupid plastic doofer...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    For cuttings, a cold frame is better. I would just have had that, but I like growing tomatoes, and they need to be undercover here, so it made sense. It suits me very well as I don't have room for a proper sized greenhouse  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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