I used to work with a guy that used to say, “I’ve only got one other speed and thatun’s slower than thisun.”
And that’s how I often feel at the nursery. Never enough time to get it all done exactly when I’d like to get it done. And Many of Our Members struggle with this as well and they don’t know what to do with their rooted cuttings that are rooted, but they either don’t have the time to pot them up or maybe don’t have a place to put them right now.
Here’s the thing. You can pot things up during the growing season, but sometimes you have to be really careful if you pull them from the propagation beds when they are leafed out. If you do root damage to a plant in leaf there is a good chance that you are going to send that plant into shock.
This is what I do. I have a bunch of cuttings rooted in our propagation beds that are ready for potting, but often we can’t get to them right at the moment. I carefully pull the cuttings from the propagation bed, then we bunch them up in bunches of 20 or 25, we clip the tops off because that’s important if you want them to fill out nicely, then we simply stick several of those bunches in a one gallon container with potting soil.
Then I place those containers on the potting bench which is shade like you see here.
Then as we find time we pull the cuttings from the container and get them potted up. Since any root damage that might have been done when we pulled the cuttings, the plants have had time to recoup sitting here in the shade. And of course we keep them watered and spritz them on really hot days.
In the containers like this the plants actually have a chance to harden off and since we’ve already clipped the tops they start making new buds right away.
If it happens to be really hot on the day that I pull them, not really recommended, but we still put them in the pots but then we can place them Next to Our Propagation Beds where they get watered throughout the day automatically.
That really gives them a huge advantage to stay healthy.
More about this process here along with a movie that I made for you.
Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond. Until then, by any and all means stay inspired!
Mike,
Because of my age (87), I don’t garden except in my dreams. I started several rhododendron cuttings about four to five weeks ago. When it comes time to pot them here in upper eastern Tennessee, it’s going to be cool. If I put them in pots, then what? Where could I put them until next spring?
Sada
Sada,
Just bury the pot in the ground in a protected area until spring.
What kind of soil do you use for newly rooted cuttings thank you.
Lynn,
any potting soil will work, but mixing in extra perlite or pine fines is a good idea so you have good soil aeration and drainage.
Hi Mike, first, thank you for all the valuable information you provide. I greatly appreciate it. Second, I’m not sure what to do with my rooted cuttings from last winter that are still in the bed. I don’t know whether to plant them in my garden or to put them in pots. I plan to use them throughout my garden but I’m concerned that they may not make it over the winter because they are small-6 in. Also, same question for softwood cuttings from this June . They are only about 3-4 in tall. What would you recommend? Thanks again for all of your advice and information.
Cory,
All the cuttings that I stuck this year, thousands of them, will stay in the bed until next spring. Most I’ll get out early spring while still dormant. The ones that have been in longer I’d leave until fall then move them where you want them. Or better to wait until completely dormant since they are really rooted in. If you move them now you’ll do root damage and you’ll shock them. Best time is after Thanksgiving and before they leaf out in the spring.
Hi Mike, I have just put about 20 cuttings into the bed of sand as shown on your video, and put a bag over them and left them in the shade. I now don’t know how long I leave them in there. I am guessing 4-6 weeks? But then it will be cold, so what do I do with them. If I pot them separately I don’t have a green house to keep them in for the winter, so do I plant them?? or can I bring them inside in my basement?
Annette,
Probably more like 6 to 8 weeks, then tug on them gently to see if they are rooted. If so, plant them in your garden before winter. Don’t bring them into the house, they need to go dormant.
No question Mike. Just wanted to say you absolutely ROCK.
That’s all. Friend to the East- Kat
Thank you Kat! Love the landscape photo on your website! Much success!
If I leave my cuttings in the misting beds for a second year as may be the case for some evergreens or simply lack of time to address them, should I put the mister back on them the following growing season (foliar watering) or should I be watering from the roots instead.
Thanks, really enjoy all of your material – just ordered my mist kit last night and I’m super excited all the way up here in New Brunswick, Canada, zone 5b!
Wes,
Once your cuttings are rooted you don’t want to keep misting them. I just overhead water mine, usually once a day, and with the evergreens I apply a slow release fertilizer the second season even if I’m leaving them in the propagation bed to fatten up.
Hi Mike,
This question may not be pertinent to the above subject, but I need to re-do several landscape areas but whenever I talk to landscape companies, they all what to “Round-up” all of my plants and start new. Well, most of my plants have a “history” in that they were starts from many Garden Club members who have passed away. It was suggested by one source that I dig the plants that I want to keep, pot them up then they can be replanted. Do you or any of your readers have any other suggestions? I am at an age that digging and I don’t go together as well as we used to!!
BJ,
If you have plants in the landscape you want to keep tag those and have all that you no longer want removed (not sprayed) removed completely by digging them out. Then the beds cleaned up of all weeds and debris then add additional plants in the open spaces as you desire. It’s your house, they are your plants, and anybody that you hire should honor your wishes or leave.
I would like to know what I could use for the hillside in front of my house as a ground cover plant. It is to hard to weedeat anymore. I live in Virginia. Love your videos and posts. Thanks for your help, Leroy
William,
Blue rug juniper, but keeping the weeds at bay while the plants fill in would be a real challenge. Something really ugly like crown vetch would fill in faster but not look good.
Currently I I use flats. But supposing if I had to use propagating beds, how to pull out without damaging the roots, as I presume the roots will get entangled. making pulling difficult. Thanks
Srini,
All of my cuttings are rooted in a bed of sand. I get them out just fine as long as I’m careful.
I really like your idea with propagation beds. They look cool and of course, you are prepared for everything earlier. How long do you keep your plants in propagation beds? How do you check the roots? Most often I buy seeds and when it’s possible I propagate my plants. However, I had many failures with it. I mean, some of the roots were rotting. Probably I overwatered them but I wanted to know your tips.
Madleaine,
Most things are rooted in about 6 weeks but I often leave them in the bed for up to a year and evergreens might stay there for two years to fatten up. If your cuttings are rotting the rooting medium isn’t draining well enough. See this; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/