Overwintering Cuttings

Just finished watering the cuttings in the basement. They are starting to look a little drab. So I took them to the stationary tub and watered from above for a change to flush out the excessive salts from the soil. The lights are on for 11 1/2 hours. Just enough to keep them alive, but holding down on the growth. Soon the light time will gradually go up as I want to have mature tender perennials in pots by Memorial Day. Probably to 16 hours for some. The soil is really poor to the touch; really exhausted. When the lights go on longer, I will transplant to slightly larger pots and new soil. It is a job to overwinter, but the rewards are many when the hard to find varieties are ready to go.

How are the cuttings going for others? Do you find it something worth doing?

I've started taking cuttings in the spring or late summer. The spring cuttings fair better (probably because the natural growth hormones are more abundant at this time). Also over wintering has become a big problem due to the amount of plants we have that need shelter from the rain, a couple of my prized Digitalis have to stay out all year this time around :(

We currently have a bundle of Lavandula dentata (Toothed Lavender)in the greenhouse. I took the cuttings in August when I sheared the mother plant and they made good sized little plantlets by the time winter arrived. Ebay will have the L. dentata market flooded by the time spring comes along, there is no way I can keep all of them!

All other cuttings will be taken in March.

I take most of my cuttings in July and I do have them all in a cold greenhouse. Most of them are like you said, golddog, alive but not growing. I see buds coming out on the little Korean Lilacs that I took last July. We have had some pretty spring like weather here so it won't be long and we will see lots of activity.