rooting cuttings

Last year i started trying out cuttings. I tried with everything i could lay my hands on and my success rate was zero but i did manage ok with division and root cuttings. So this year and after loads research, i started earlier this year. Ive tried many diff ways inc bag method, plastic lids, shade, sand etc etc. Sometimes i get new growth but not for long. My latest wave of cuttings seems ok so far but quite slow. But i have 1 plant that has given me 100 percent success, Chrysanthemums! Every single cutting from mums have rooted nice. Also Spotted laurel ivy jade lobelia have all survived and given new growth n roots. But zero success with Hydrangea Leycesteria begonia fucshia rose lavender cosmos Petunia... What plants do you have 100 percent success rate with cuttings? My recent method is in my kitchen in shade and i hand mist twice day and this so far has been best way.

Coleus.
I had a crop of crops last winter....Had to re-pinch them twice--and root all the new pinched off tops...

Hydrangea macrophylla... I've only lost like 3. I just cut em. Stick em in miracle grow and set em in the green house, watering when they get dry.

The only thing I've ever had 100 percent luck with is Sedum like Autumn Joy Sedum.
Whenever a piece breaks off I just stick it back into the dirt and I know I will have another new plant growing they are like magic plants.

outlaw---

Is there any reason you are not rooting the tops cuttings on your Hydrangea?

I have an Endless Summer Hydrangea and have rooted a lot of cuttings from just the stem tips.
I do snip back the leaves to small--as they can be large and sap a lot of energy out of rootless cuttings.

I believe--that overall--Hydrangeas root very easily. Stems--Tips--or whatever parts....
Gita

The tops? You mean just the tip of the stem? When i took these cuttings i took several long branches and cut them down. I take the tops off like "pinching back" so each one is more bushy. I do have some that are the tops"tops" if i am understanding your question.

outlaw---

Yes! I meant just the tips of the branches....Remove some leaves from the bottom of the cutting and stick them
in a small pot in fresh soil mix--OR--just in my flower bed, next to Mama. They do root easily.

I understand your way--pinch off the very top and root the remaining piece of stem=more bushy plant when rooted.
I suppose the same could be achieved next spring when it is actively growing--just pinch off the growing tips. Yes?

Thanks, Gita

Yeah, same idea. :) some of these cuttings were mailed to me by another dg member, some i took myself from work, with the ones that are tops i actually am hoping to try to grow a tree form. Not sure if it will work as well with a macrophylla as a paniculata. Bit worth a shot anyway! :)
I've also rooted some sedum and some stone crop. Oh, does Ajuga count?

Hi Jenzuk, I'm from UK too (Scotland) I always try to take cuttings around August / September, before the nights get too cold or April time when the days are getting longer.
If you don't have a heated propagator, thats like a seed tray that electrically warms from below and has a clear plastic roof to keep out cold air. you can keep the cuttings in pots indoors, (don't sit them at window at night as the cols air will cause mold etc, but what you can do is place about 4-6 cuttings in one pot, stick short canes in the pot (3-4) then place a clean Polly bag over the canes and tie this to keep sealed (an elastic band will do) I then water the pots from the bottom by sitting them in a basin of water, soon as the compost turns darker, lift pots out and let drain, don't water again till compost is dry. after a few weeks you check for roots gently lifting out a cutting, if not enough roots, replace and care for as before,IF you are taking cuttings from larger leaved plants like Hydrangea, cut all leaves away except the very top 2-3, IF these leaves are still large, cut these leaves in half and this helps prevent moisture evaporation from the foliage, the plants are working hard to make roots and cant take up lots of moisture at the same time. Also try dipping the end of your cuttings into some rooting powder etc as this helps to keep rot and disease at bay while the plant is trying to make new roots, don't over-do the hormone rooting powder (buy from garden centers) just dip the inch bottom of stem.
Save your clear empty plastic juice bottles , cat in half across, then use the plastic bottles like tiny mini greenhouses by placing on top of your pots with small cuttings, by removing the cap and cutting small holes in the bottom part, this will allow air to circulate and prevent mold forming and don't need plastic bags, I find a long 6 inch wide green tray is good for lining up pots of cuttings and setting them close to windows in daytime but take away from windows at night. hope this gives you more encouragement for next time. good luck. WeeNel.