Penstemon cuttings

[andy]

Ok...what's the secret of growing these from cuttings. Ive tried them in soil and in water, ive tried them with bottom heat, in the prop house at work and in the conservatory at home...and they just rot.

Ive put them in poly bags, ive added grit, ive added vermiculite and they still rot off.

what am i doing wrong ? i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/angry.gif

[Amber]

Try standing the pot in a shaded/cool spot; the conditions you've tried before might be too warm for them . Good luck

[Jasmine]

I do mine in the cool of the lobby in jam jars of water - only problem at this time of the year is mildew.
I can send you rooted cuttings if you want!

[Auricula]

I have NO luck whatsoever with cuttings in water They just sit there...unrooted!!
I do them in plastic 3" pots of compost+ perlite, in a shady bit of my unheated greenhouse, with a plastic propagator lid over them for about a week. I think the secret is to keep them very much on the dry side.They are fussy bu****s when they are small and will rot if they're too damp I'm about to take my main load of cuttings over the next few days, because it was too hot when I took them a few weeks ago. Good luck

[Jilly]

I root mine in jars of water the same as Jasmine, on a shady kitchen windowsill.

I never had any problem with getting them to root in water, it was when I first potted them up that they died on me. Until I learned from Jasmine & Auricula that strangely for something that roots readily in water once they're potted up they hardly want any water at all i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/rolleyes.gif

Jillyx

[Missredhead]

I have never had any luck with taking cuttings

[Barbara]

I snapped the one I have by accident, I stuck the piece in the ground and it's growing happily, I don't like them all that much though, and my sister says they look like weeds.

[Jasmine]

Weeds? ;D

[Auricula]

[Missredhead]

I think your sister needs glasses .............or a stern talking to !!
Auricula you tell her off..you are so good at it ;D

[Auricula]

Hmmm.......never heard the like!! They are gorgeous and not at all weedlike
Specsavers do gift vouchers Barbara, might be a present idea for your sister

[Barbara]

She doesn't like pelagoniums. wallflowers, eryngium, geraniums, iris, and then says I don't have much in my garden. ;D

[Jasmine]

Daylilies are ok then? ;D

[Auricula]

What does she like? ;D
Does she live near you?

[Barbara]

Oh yes she lives near me I give her plants, they're never seen again. I gave up asking what happens, I just give her seeds and cuttings and split plants for her, when I have them but last week she ''pinched'' cuttings from my russian clem by taking leaves, and pulled a poppy out by the roots saying it would come back next year, she also pulls the seed heads off as she goes past and pockets them thinking I haven't noticed . ;D
She says ''thats nice I'll have some of that,'' I've never known her to buy anything for the garden, she just scrounges off me. ;D

[Auricula]

;D ;D she sounds a real menace Barbara Aren't you tempted to give her something invasive??

[bigolob]

I do not understand why so many people have difficulty with rooting Penstemon cuttings, unless they try to propergate at the wrong time of year.

Three years ago after a severe winter in Cheshire and elsewhere, I lost nearly all of my Penstemon and made up my mind to never allow this to happen again - the collection numbered around 70 plants.

For the past 2 years I have taken my cuttings in August, potted them 6 to a 5 inch pot in the GH covered with a plastic bag. All cuttings rooted and were kept in the heated conservatory until February and then as rooted cuttings, separated into 4 inch pots individually.

They were planted out into the beds in mid May and have flourished.

[Rosefriend]

Your post reminds me of Tigs and the Tithonia's - so many people had problems and in the end she just chucked some seeds in the pot and they were fantastic...

I think we just care to much at times - I certainly do...rough and ready could be the way, now and again!!

Well done Bigolob....I can't grow Penstemon cuttings either...I am happy try again though..

RF