Cuttings advice please ...

[Deleted]

Hi all,

Last week - probably foolishly - I bought my little coldframe into the house because of the cold snap. Put it in the coolest room in the house, but now I see that the cuttings are showing definite signs of growth. What do I do now - put them back outside, or keep them in and nurture them until the spring? I know this sounds silly - bear with a novice, please ... cheers ...

[sweetleaf]

I would put them out in daytime and bring em in at night for a while. Very much like when you harden off for planting out, only youre hardening off for outdoor living in a cold frame. Other than that, Im sure others may have ideas.


Its a good sign that your cuttings have rooted though! ;D

[Plocket]

I would recommend what Sweetleaf has said - put them outside in a sheltered spot during the day and then bring them in at night. I'd put the coldframe back outside too because your plants won't need it in the house, and when they are a bit hardened up you can put them in the coldframe over night (outside) rather than bringing them into the house.

[Deleted]

Thanks ... am doing as suggested ... cheers ...

[MamIDdau]

I thought of you at work yesterday CC cos I sold some CC seeds hehe

[Chuckles]

Anyone ever done cuttings of Yew sucessfully,. Where I have my bonfire there is a Yew tree, well I would call it more a bush. It is such a lovely colour green.

[oldmoleskins]

greety said:

Anyone ever done cuttings of Yew successfully,. Where I have my bonfire there is a Yew tree, well I would call it more a bush. It is such a lovely colour green.

They're very slow, Chuckles - which is why most growers use seed-gatherers (and that, of course, is why there's such a wide variety of plants when you try to select a hundred matching ones for a hedge).

But it can be done... try taking some cuttings - or pulling some to leave a heel - and follow the usual 'micro-climate' method of shrouding a pot with clingfilm.
Like some other subjects, side shoots will generally produce bushy plants (good for hedging) more upright top growth is more likely to produce the 'christmas tree' look useful for 'cone' topiary. Unless, of course, it's an Irish yew, when it'll make no difference.

OM.

[Chuckles]

Thanks OM I like to give things a try. It's so nice when you get things going yourself, very satisfying as long as you have some patience. I do get cluttered up with pots of bit and bobs though, Oh well it's fun.

There was a time when at least 6 cuttings of everything I pruned got put in a pot to take it's chance. Gave loads away, now I'm cured, well almost ;D