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Propogation Failure!

bryanedwbryanedw Posts: 20
in Problem solving

Looks like another failure!
These are 3 weeks old - hydrangea, fuschia and the salvia holding a little bit of hope. Here's what I ve done:
used a porcelain plant pot
Half grit, half all purpose compost
Cut just below a node
stripped a lot of the leaves off
used rooting powder
Any suggestions for improvement?
«1

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Shady place with a cover on or plastic bag on sticks to reduce transpiration.
  • nickoslesterosnickoslesteros Posts: 178
    Complete novice here, but I had great success with some softwood hydrangea cuttings. I followed advice to leave two leaves and cut those is half. I generously watered the pots (I used plastic) and bagged them up in sandwich bags to give a close environment. But then in a semi dark spot above the kitchen cupboards. Got a great root system in 3-4 weeks. Not sure if this is the best way, but worked ok for me 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Covering them with a plastic bag, or placing in a propagator is key, to prevent the leaves losing too much moisture.
    How can you lie there and think of England
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2023
    I’ve had several successes with hydrangea cuttings in a jam jar of water on a shady windowsill for a few weeks. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The terracotta pot and no cover will mean the transpiration mentioned will have been even quicker. The mix you've used also means sharper drainage, and some composts seem to be very difficult to keep hydrated, so that may not have helped.
    I'd use a plastic pot, and try some again but covered as described. You could also try some using sieved soil and grit instead of the compost to see what works best.
    Not too hot a spot, but with enough light. I often put cuttings in among other plants for that reason. It's easy for small cuttings to get fried, because even a north facing window can get hot with a small amount of sun   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited July 2023
    I've taken quite a few hydrangea cuttings of Vanille Fraise for friends who have admired mine, and found them easy.
    As said above I think the plastic bag is key to success.
    I put 4 cuttings each in a corner of a small square plastic pot with gritty compost. Trim the leaves as necessary, dampen the compost then put it in a freezer bag and tie the top of the bag, leaving it in a bright but shady spot behind my greenhouse.
    They've usually taken in about 4 weeks and ready to pot up in 6-8 weeks.

    Billericay - Essex

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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited July 2023
    Smaller pots (plastic is fine) and put the cuttings around the edges. I use 3 inch or so diameter for fuchsias and shrubby salvias (I don't grow hydrangeas, it's too dry here). Put a plastic bag or clear propagator top over them to keep a high level of humidity around them (not touching the foliage) and knock off the water droplets every day. Separate them into individual pots when they've rooted. For things with big leaves it can help to cut the end half off the larger leaves to reduce transpiration.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bryanedwbryanedw Posts: 20
    fidgetbones said:
    Shady place with a cover on or plastic bag on sticks to reduce transpiration.
    Thanks fidgetbones. I'm kicking myself now because I had heard of doing that. Might have another go at weekend!
  • bryanedwbryanedw Posts: 20
    nickoslester93f3fKIn said:
    Complete novice here, but I had great success with some softwood hydrangea cuttings. I followed advice to leave two leaves and cut those is half. I generously watered the pots (I used plastic) and bagged them up in sandwich bags to give a close environment. But then in a semi dark spot above the kitchen cupboards. Got a great root system in 3-4 weeks. Not sure if this is the best way, but worked ok for me 
    nickoslester93f3fKIn said:
    Complete novice here, but I had great success with some softwood hydrangea cuttings. I followed advice to leave two leaves and cut those is half. I generously watered the pots (I used plastic) and bagged them up in sandwich bags to give a close environment. But then in a semi dark spot above the kitchen cupboards. Got a great root system in 3-4 weeks. Not sure if this is the best way, but worked ok for me 
    Thanks Nick. I'm defo going to bag them up next time but also intrigued by semi dark place. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I mentioned this on another thread,  you can use a pot the size of the bottle,  open the screw lid every so often if they mist up too much. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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