Compost for Cuttings

I've not done badly with cuttings this year, but have had one or two disappointments.I've just used a ready mixed seedlings and cuttings compost...'like it says on the bag'

What would the more informed on here reckon is the ideal mix for cuttings? and would you always water from the bottom?

 

I would suggest using compost that is deplete in nutrients. The idea is to encourage strong rootgrowth. fill a pot with the compost. give it a good soaking. Then when it has drained through, insert your cuttings, making sure the compost is firmly in contact with the cutting. Place in a clear plastic bag and leave for a couple of weeks. For hardy shrubs, push the cuttings into a quiet area of garden and leave for a few months.

 

I mix some Perlite with the compost to loosen it up a bit (probably about 50:50 Perlite /Compost)

If seems to hold the water much better than "just compost" subsequently, which is also helpful.

 

Me, I do a mixture of both the above - mix about 50/50 J. Arthur's seed 'n cutting with perlite and cover with a poly bag (or 2 litre plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off), with a good soak to the compost before inserting the cuttings, I find they don't need watering for ..... oh, ages!

 

I like to have a 50/50 mix sharp sand and peat for the more robust cuttings, and a 50/50 peat and perlite or vermiculite for more tend cuttings ..I think we all achieve the same results..

Dave

 

If I take some cuttings from my fushcias just now and bring them on in the open would they flower this year do you think? If not, what is the best way to keep them over winter I only have a plastic greenhouse. I tried to insulate it last year as much a possible with fleece etc. but it was too cold for most of my cuttings.

 

I take fuschia cuttings and start them off in water on a windowsill, they take a few weeks to root. When the roots have developed enough I pot them up. There's a chance they may flower this year if they put on enough growth.

Any young cuttings (taken late) I over winter again on a windowsill, just to keep frost at bay.

 

Fuschsias are amongst the easiest :thumb: I would think they would flower in two months from cuttings if you can keep them growing vigorously with no set-backs

 

My mixed coloured primroses have now stopped flowering so what can I do with them now? I thought if I took off all the older leaves down to the new growth and left them would they have another flush of flowers? Or should I lift them and split them up?

Sally

Can anybody help me with this please.