Miscellaneous Propagation Questions

The intent of this thread is to invite questions or comments about propagating plants, in case anyone prefers adding to an existing thread instead of starting a new thread themselves.

We can always create a new thread if a topic here becomes active, and give it a title that will help future generations find it more easily.

Anything about propagating plants is on-topic, for example:
seed starting
cuttings
layering
root divison
bulbs & rhizomes
grafting
mass multiplication or commercial applications of propagation
hydroponic cloning ("bubblers")
tissue culture
misting, temperature control, humidity control
propagating in greenhouses, hoop tunnels, cold frames
breeding
protected or patented plant varieties
anything else about propagation.

Again, starting your own thread is good! Or you can start the ball rolling here.

Corey

I do believe Dave Walton would love this thread Corey. Hopefully he will be awake enough tomorrow to take a look, and maybe join in soon.

So, you are not looking for specific plants, just types of propagation. Wow, this could take up this whole entire topic of propagation.

I have a question that has come up now. I have a couple of peonies that have been in and untouched since about 1995, which would be about 16 years. I have noticed that they are blooming less each year lately. So, I do believe they should be divided. I have dug Dahlia clumps. Are they anything like those? How deep are they? And, how do you divide them? By eyes? Just cut them in quarters? I do not know where or when to start with them. How far out are the roots? Surely not to the dripline. Some plants, I believe, the centers are not good. Is that the case with Peonies? Would they be woody, rotten, or???

Thanks for the thread Corey. Jeanette

Those I am currently propagating are:

Coleus, sweet potato vine - in water and in pots (in water roots in 1 week in this weather)

Coreopis - in pots; kept wet/to very moist

Bleeding Heart - hard to propogate, but i keep at it. Out of 15 last month I have only 2 that made

Peg, I understand the first ones in water. The 2nd and 3rd, I don't understand how you are propagating them? Do you mean you just took cuttings and put in soil? How are you trying to propagate the Bleeding Hearts? Did you take cuttings, seeds, divide a root?

Jnette - when I divided my Peonies I made sure to dig out and around a good several feet from where the main clump was so I could get all of it I could and keep a good bit of the root system in tact. I then rinsed off with a hose and with a clean knife cut them into pieces where there were at least 3 to 5 'eyes' on it Because I'm in the south I don't plant as deeply as your zone - in fact I leave part of the eye barely showing - but for you with winter heave and freeze plant 1-2" down (no more - I learned that lesson in Indiana when they didn't bloom for 3 years after dividing...after talking to a friend I realized my error of planting 4" deep was affecting their blooms.

Since you have such a large clump I am sure you will easily be able to leave 5 eyes per piece hoping for a better chance of bloom next year - but Peonies can be fussy and take to the second year to bloom after moving - but they are sooo worth the wait... :) Hope this info helps!

Deanna

A couple questions Deanna, how deep are they, and when do you do it? Thanks so much. You've been a big help.

Jeanette

So Evelyn, you don't think they will bloom again for a few years? Looks like Deanna thinks the same. I hate that. What would happen if I don't dig them up at all and just take some off the roots around the sides?

Probably not a very good thing to do huh?

I had a tree peony I put in a pot on the deck. It bloomed the first year I potted it but then it died over the winter. Not sure if it froze, or if what happened to it. The books all said they were hardy to zone 3. Maybe it froze and then moisture thawed above the frozen bottom and sat in water and rotted. Not sure what happened to it.

in order to slice off the number of eyes a healthy piece needs I would try one side of it perhaps? you will still get the leaves next year and it may surprise you with one or two blooms but if you're not getting any now...it will truly thank you for separating it :)~

and I'm willing to bet ur spot on with the Tree Peony - container gardening can be harsh on bulbs etc as the temp is different than in the ground - last year was weird for us here in the carolina's I lost my curcuma's after 4 years of fab. blooms due to the wet winter :(

Does anyone know about rooting clerodendrum? I have the red bleeding heart ( pink/purple/red) and I would love to have some more. Also the clerodendrum ugandense. ( blue butterflies). Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Linda

Bleeding heart:

Some of the books I have read state that you can NOT propagate BH by cuttings, but I have done it with cuttigs with a little success rate. (better one then none) Most of the recommendations are to divide your plants.
I made a snip of about 4-5" long just below a node. Then I cut the leaves off (not tear) leaving only 3-4 leaves on the top. If the remaining leaves are large I will cut them in half, this will allow the plant to put more energy into the roots instead of supporting leaves. I dip the stem in rootone and plant in a 4" pot.
I usually use 1 part peatmoss to 1/2 part sand. I have some low dose powered ferterlizer (say 8-6-4) and sprinkle that powder in the soil. Mix all 3 ingredents well and pour into pot. I spray mist them sometimes twice a day, more often if I am home, and water from the bottom.

Coreopis:
After coreopis bloom the long woody stems begin to form plantlets. I will trim the stem and leave one plantlet on. Put in a pot using the above soil mixture. Again I keep them damp by water from the bottom.
My aunt collects seeds from coreopis, but my plants don't seem to put out viable seeds. Guess I haven't figured out when to collect them.


Both of these need constant attention. Good luck.

Thanks Peg, i will try that today.

I have been trying to find out how to propagate euphorbia by cuttings...I read somewhere to plunge the cuttings in sand to stop the sap bleeding and then plant. Anyone have any experience propagating these plants?

Also I have three tree peonies I planted before I knew much about them. The graft point is slightly above the soil line. I have read recently that it should be below the soil line so the plant makes it own roots. So, do I dig them up and replant? They bloom lightly about every other year.

Wish tree peonies were go for our southern weather, but the heat just cooks them. Therefore, I am of no help with your question.

Not sure which euphorbia you are thinking of, but will look into it. Is it a succulent?

The euphorbia (pencil cactus) is very easy to propagate in damp soil. Some recommendations are to let the cutting heal over before planting, but I never have time or remember to go back later and stick them. I use fresh cutting in damp soil. Remember the white milky sap is poisonious.

This year is the first time I purchased euphorbia (diamond frost). I tried it in water but did not propagate. The plant files say "herbacous stem cuttings".

This message was edited Sep 22, 2011 8:25 AM

Wow Peg, I was just going to say how easy Diamond Frost was to root in water. There are several kinds of Euphorbias like Diamond Frost and I got one this year, can't remember the name, and it rooted very easy in water too. I had taken a couple off to give my sister starts.

However, the Euphorbia family is so diverse that you almost have to know what kind a person is talking about. I'll bet, from the sounds of what cwalke said, that it is more like the succulant, as you said, pencil cactus. Funny it didn't root in the sand. Maybe mix some coir in with the sand? Many years ago I gave one of those to my mom and couldn't believe how that thing grew. She had it in a West window seat and it took over the whole window.

Jnette, have you tried collecting seeds from Diamond Frost. Not sure where to look for them. Guess I need to try cutting in water a third time. Maybe I need to add peroxide. hmmmmmmmmm. How did you do yours?

Generally, I can root just about most anything. But, when I tried Euphobia 'Crown of Thorn' and it rotted. Yes, I waited for the branch to callous over for 4-5 days. It still didn't take root.

No Peg, I would not know where to look for seeds. Well, where the flowers are obviously, but what would they look like? Bet they would be tiny if you found some. I stuck them in plain water. Nothing else. Might be the time of year? I did them in June. I really do think that has a lot to do with it.

Lily, Those are kind of woody aren't they? How did you try to root them? Maybe again, the time of year? Bet this time of year would be harder. Now, I have never had trouble rooting Brugs. But year before last winter I had them in a bubbler all winter and couldn't get them to root. Had them in my kitchen. So it was light in the day, fairly warm, etc. nothing.

Just remembered I want to root the Y'd top of a brug now so I had better get busy if I am going to.

actually, I guess I am referring to the spurge like E charachas (sp) not the cactus/succulent type

Jnette, it was 1st week of August when I tried. Maybe I'll wait until spring to try them again. On the other hand. I've a honeysuckle that was cut down by accident when I and family revised the flower bed. I just simply stuck the woody stem into another pot of plant. I forgot it for months, then one day. I found it happily climbing up the brug that I stuck it in with.

hmmmm, honeysuckle and brug. Interesting combination.

cwalke, I will look at your Euphorbia in PF.

Couldn't find it cwalke. Sorry. But, I don't understand why any spurge would be hard to start.

I never thought about honey suckle with brugs. I do like morning glories climbing up the trunks of my brugs though and sunflowers too.

It wasn't intended to make a compatible combo, b/w the brug and honeysuckle. But if my brug is a yellow bloom, the pink/yellow honeysuckle will compliment one another. Neither of the two has bloomed this year, but currently they're happily cohabitate, lol

I guess there are different kinds of honeysuckle but the ones that grow here, the hybrids, are too heavy for a brug. Also too tall. Now there are wild ones that the two would be real cool together, but I have tried to transplant the wild ones and it just doesn't work.

Jnette, wild huneysuckles are prolific down South. Even though with its alluring fragrant. It isn't worth our effort to cultivate them. Birds and wildlife spread their seeds enough to create enough headache for gardeners. Mine is an unknown cultivar that have few, but attractive bloom of yellow and pink. I can't wait until I can enjoy their blooms once again, maybe next spring.

Lily, that must be nice. Well, maybe not if they are invasive. But we only see them occasionally when we see them growing up a tree or something in the forest. Yes, I can see how they would be nice climbing a brug. Post a picture when they do.

Ibartoo, I just read your question on propagating a the blue butterfly plant. With my luck, I had a small broken branch early on during the growing season, I actually had two that broke off. I simply stuck them into the same pot and kept 'em in semi-shade. They both took roots. That's one of my 'specialty' lol Just stick them into another container. The key environment that I have in the surrounding helps propagation, is humidity. I kept those container by a body of water (the lake), and there they get the high humidity that cuttings need to take roots.

Jeanette, I'll share pix when the mentioned plants bloom.

I just did a couple propagation project. Repotting is a form of propagation right? I thought you may like to look at the project, especially for ibartoo. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1221928/

Very interesting Lily. So now do you shape them into bonsais?

Jnette, the Clerodendron, may not be a candidate for 'training' because it could be pretty gangly and big. I hope to enjoy it when it's in this stage and transfer it back out to a larger pot when it gets bigger.

Lily, that is awesome. Thanks, I left a few questions for you on the other thread.
Linda

Ditto Linda,

I'll be back after the neighborhood luncheon and we'll discuss about the questions. Oh I checked the cutting that I took yesterday, so far, so good.

Having had an interest in propagating plants for more than 50 years. My greatest success has been root division.
Over this passed summer I have become interest in" Miniature" Plants. I have a number, of good starts. of many.
All are perennials,cold hardy to zone 7. Divisions will have been growing aprox 8-12 weeks by frost.Plan had been to leave outside for the winter. I would like to speed up their growing process. I am growing for my own use. To share,and educate,not for sale. I see much info,advice,equipment for seed. Little about plants.

My questions are: What Kind Of Equipment do I need?

Order a long frame cover.Leave under cover, as is, until spring?

Jump Start in Feb or Mar?

One of the 4 Shelf Units/with cover Set up in Garage Window?Now or later?How warm?

Would heat mat benifit the plants?If so do I need one per shelf? Dome Cover?

What kind of pots/trays are best for these starts?Pete, or plastic?

I need some fine rock in mushroom compost/sand. What /where does it come from? Is there better growing material?
Chicken/ crushed oyster shell? Was suggested

For me better using things purchased. I am not good at rigging.

I look forward to advice.Thank You

Choo, this may not be what you are wanting at all, but from what I understand you are saying, you are wanting to divide perennials and start more from them? Is that right? I don't think you can expect perennials to multiply in the winter. Could be wrong.

My weather is such that I must sink my small perennial pots in the ground so they do not freeze too much. They do go dormant. Dormant means to sleep. So, I therefore, I don't expect them to multiply then, but when they wake up in the spring.

As I said, this may not be where you are coming from at all. If so, ignore me.

Jnette, Thank You for the answer. So they must sleep. I can't just make them cozy, and keep them growing.
Is that not what they do in a green house? Keep growing?
Is mulch enough to keep them warm,outside?Would a cover help? Do I keep the top open?
Would a cover that lets light, and rain in. Benifit the plants? I could plant them in the earth.
Would that be better than keeping them in pots?

Rick, from what I understand, perennial plants do not necessarily sleep as long in warm climates as they do in ours. Perennials like bulbs, rejuvenate themselves and add size and other bulbs in the winter. So, I could be all wet. I would watch a lot of mulch in your area since it is so wet over there, and not real cold. By that I mean the ground doesn't normally freeze deep.

You don't want them to rot.

In a greenhouse they could keep growing like they do in warm climates I imagine.

What specifically are you talking about?

The Plants are miniature ones. Should be cold hardy zones 4-7 for most. Everything from ground covers,1 inch Hostas,Geraniums,Edelweiss, Violet's, and Daisy's. Yes all grow to about an inch. . .To name a few. I think my real question is do they have to sleep? Or can they stay warm and keep growing?

I know that people grow geraniums in the house in the winter. LIke fuchsias and coleuses.

I had a real interesting conversation a while back with some people in the south discussing "indoor hostas." I had never heard of them. Come to find out I think they are just regular hostas that they grow in the house. Some of them were keeping them in just plain water like in a vase.