Tecoma Stans Esperanza

At a business near me, the new owner has abandoned the once attractive water feature and rock garden and it is a weedy eyesore. But without any water, the Tecoma Stans Esperanza is blooming beautifully. So I took 3 cuttings of the new growth. Have them in Forsythe pot. Used rooting hormone. I am totally NEWBIE at this. Should I cut the leaves off the cuttings in the Forsythe pot? Any hopes that it will root this way?

Thanks.

How are they doing? I took some cuttings and trimmed all but the top 3 or so leaves. Then, because the leaves are kinda large, I cut the remaining leaves in half. We'll see if I have any luck!

I just left 3 leaves on each stem but all of the leaves wilted severely, so I just cut them off. Am tempted to take out one of the cuttings and see if there's any roots forming. I took the cuttings from new growth but wondering if I should have used the more woody older growth?? Know absolutely nothing about doing this.

Hmmm....I used both just to see if one worked better than the other. Mine have stayed perked up. If they take, I'll bring ya one at the RU in Arlington.

Wondering if the heat affected mine. I keep the rooting pot in the shade on my front porch.

That's a possibility. I have mine indoors in a sunny window, but out of the direct sun. They're still lookin' good today. I hope they take!

I see one thing on one cutting that gives me hope. These little leaves are growing. If I get one out of three to root, I'll be happy.

Good job!!!! Lovely plant, too.

Woohoo!!

Great BIG woohoo this morning. All 3 of the Esperanza cuttings have started these little leaves. I had not checked on them for the last 3 days because of everything involved with the constant rain we've had. Quite surprised when I saw them this morning. They have been in the Forsythe pot since 8-28-09.

Now, how long do I leave them in the Forsythe pot and what do I do next, please? First time I've ever done anything like this.

I have no idea! I've been wondering that myself, too!

That's great! From here, it is a bit of a guess. I'd definitely wait until you have at least a full set of leaves before even thinking about transplanting. Are you going to transplant them into the ground or will they be pot babies?

I am not familiar with Forsythe pots - about how big is it and do you have all three sprigs in the same pot?

Pagancat, here is link explaining the Forsythe pot method of rooting cuttings. http://www.plantswap.net/forum/f25/propagating-cuttings-using-forsythe-pots-1264/ As I said, I've never used this before but it seems to be working so far. I think the tricky part will be moving them from the Forsythe pot.

I hope to plant these in the ground but wondering if I will be running out of time to get them established before possible freeze.

Yeah, you might want to overwinter them on a sunny porch or in a cold frame and bring them in for the coldest nights. It looks like they're just on the edge of being hardy in your area - you'll be able to tell if the mother plant was in a protected area or next to a heat retaining structure or if it was doing great out in the middle of nowhere. Being that they're in pots and very young, they'll need some coddling.

I'd overwinter them in 1 gal pots on the south side of the house or on the east side. If you have a sunny extra room, you could put them in there, too. I put my stuff in our enclosed sun room. It does get cold, but they get lots of sunshine.

The mother plant is out in the open, no water except for rain, which until the last week had been very little rain this summer. It is at a business where the new owner has abandoned the once attractive rock feature and let the weeds grow waist high. Has been there for at least 5 years in this condition. The fact that it has bloomed its heart out with no care is what made me fall in love with Esperanza. LOL.

If the rocks are near it, they're holding warmth for the plant from the day into the nights. When you get around to planting, I'd replicate that situation - it appears that they prefer it hotter than cooler.

You probably already know, but 'Esperanza' is 'Hope' en espanol, si?

It will die back in the winter, but if you mulch it well, water occasionally, and cover it if we're expecting ice or snow, it should come back. It's always the last to put out leaves as it really needs the warmer temps, and I always think it's died, but mine has successfully come back the past 3 years. Definitely overwinter your babies inside in a sunny spot. Don't water too much and you should be fine in the spring.