Propagation: part II on basic how to propagation based on my experience, 1 by Pughbear7

Pughbear7 wrote:
Howdy:
Yes it gets tougher when the temps lower. Lorraine I would guess you have about another month to month and a half to root stuff. Do you have any heated grow matts? I was reading one post where they were using the rope christmas lights as heating cables. As long as they are rated for out door use they should help but I am not sure if they might get too hot. I have been closing my little greenhouse up at night to keep the temps up. I am planning to fill 1 gallon milk jugs with water to hold heat and disapate it out over night during cold spells. I also put my GH up against a brick wall that will hold heat as well. You are shooting for 68 to 72 I believe is optimum temp for cuttings. I will have to double check that one and get back to you. I know I can probably get one or 2 more batches of cuttings going if I need to before I need to hunker down and play the warm the plants game. Right now I open up my greenhouse in the morning and close it at night. its getting down in the 60's but tomorrow its suposed to be in the lower 50's so I will keep it buttoned up longer. Last year I managed to grow a begonia in my unheated house. now thie house was against a south facing brickwall and the garage was in front of it so it blocked the north wind. but still with the ice storm we had I think it did great. I have already started grouping my plants together by the greenhouse to keep them warmer than all spread out and exposed. I had hoped to have some topsoil to bury some of my pots in but thats not gonna happen. If you are trying to winter over containerized plants try to bury the pot to planting depth and keep the plants watered well on warmer days. Lorraine you will have some of the same issues I have 60's and 70's one day and that afternoon bammm its snowing and we can get a foot if it hits right and its gone in 3 or 4 days sometimes. Has everyone fertilized for the winter???? I try to use a slow release this time of year to make everyone survive the winter as best I can. Ok Tomorrow back to aeroponics... I think... I will be on and off most of today as my shoulder is giving me fits and typing doesn't help. I need to check into the speak and auto type. and win the lottery...lol ... Here is a picture of my GH as I get ready for winter. Yea I know its a mess but it seems to be last on the list. not sure why.