when and how to take cuttings

woodspirit1 Lake Toxaway, NC(Zone 7a) Jun 01, 2003

I have never taken cuttings myself before. But because I don't have much room to store plants, I'm going to have to do that. Do you wait and just take tip cuttings before frost gets them? And if you see a great one blooming somewhere and can get a cutting, can you do it right in the middle of the summer? Also, can you just cut them back, and try to keep them indoors........? I know it's a lot of questions, but I am still just a beginner....

Post #542913

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snowhermit Woodsville, NH(Zone 4a) Jun 01, 2003

woodspirit, I usually start taking cuttings in August so they have time to root before the cold weather hits. They root better when they are warm and still in active growth. In your zone you can take them a little later.
If you see a great one and can get a cutting grab it and run regardless of what time of year. LOL
Tip cuttings above the Y will produce bushier plants but will flower early.
Cuttings taken from the trunk(below the Y) or shoot cuttings will produce a taller tree like plant but will flower later.
You can cut them back and have them go dormant in the winter or just trim it leaving at least 6-8 leaf nodes. You will have a head start on it flowering the following year if you don't cut below the Y. If you cut it right down it will have to grow a new Y before it will flower again.It would depend if you have the room to be able to store the plant for the winter. Hope this helps.