Verbena bonariensis cuttings

Hello Lovelies,

I hope everyone's keeping well. I have a question about Verbena bonariensis. I managed to get some cuttings to take (see photo for new growth) and I'm wondering what to do next. Will these be okay if I plant them straight outside in the border, or do I need to pot them on individually and overwinter them somewhere frost free before planting out in spring? Thoughts very much appreciated!

 

Personally I would pot them up into 9cm pots and grow them on over Winter, either in a coldframe or a sheltered position by a house wall for example.
It may also depend on whereabouts you live, if you're in the middle of suburbia "down South" and they've filled the pots with roots by the middle of October you could plant out in the garden .

 

I'd say pot them on individually and place them where they can get more direct light - turning the pots daily if necessary. It will depend on how quickly they grow on and make good roots before winter ( seems a long way away just now !! ) and whereabouts you live as to the best time to plant out. Down here, I have a very large one which has flowered well for the past couple of years and shows no sign of giving up.
No doubt other members will advise but good luck with them anyway

 

I agree with @AnniD. A sheltered spot somewhere, in their own pots, and with enough light as @Philippa says.
They really wouldn't be big enough by autumn/early winter to plant out, unless you're very lucky with conditions where you live @Lucy_Lokitt .
They're unlikely to have decent enough root systems at this stage, judging by the photo, to be sturdy enough for planting out. It's always better to be cautious, and by growing them on over winter, you'll have better, stronger plants to put out in spring.

 

I agree. Pot on individually, overwinter in a sheltered corner, plant out in the garden in Spring. Proper job.

 

Thank you everyone and apologies for the delay in replying. I've just come home after some fairly major surgery, so I'm catching up but husband is also watching me like a hawk so no sneaky gardening for now! I will hopefully be strong enough to pot these up in late September though, so will endeavor to do that then.

 

Hope you recover quickly @Lucy_Lokitt.
If necessary perhaps you can closely supervise your husband in potting on duties .

 

Best wishes for a rapid recovery @Lucy_Lokitt

 

Thank you for your well wishes We may have to resort to proxy gardening via hubbt, but let's see

 

Another wee question if I may: when potting these cuttings on, would you pinch out the tips or leave them as is? They're going for it and getting quite tall, which I realise is Verbena B's prerogative, but I'm keen to know what you think might be best at this stage when I'm trying to establish a healthy plant and not flowering?

 

Bit of a tricky one for me. I think if they're particularly leggy then it will be worth pinching the tops out to promote a bushier plant to get through the winter .

 

Agree with @AnniD if you want them to flower next year, pinch out for a bushier plant.
Depends on your site but I have always found them to be quick growing and last for 2 or 3 years when they then require cutting back to a reasonable height or replacing with new plants. They don't give up easily IME

 

Thank you very much @AnniD and @Philippa, that's so helpful.

 

I agree too- if you can get them potted up individually soon - maybe with hubby's help [it won't be too tricky!] that will also help, because if you have to wait until the end of next month, there's a good chance they'll be quite knitted together, and will then be harder to separate for potting up. Getting them into their own pots and nipping out the tops will also mean they'll form their root systems really well, rather than trying to maintain the top growth, and you'll get some nice little sturdy plant by next spring. They're easy to remove and pot up when it's early on, assuming they have some roots, and they can cope with some rough handling!

Hope you recover well though - it's always difficult when these things hold you back.