I have several cuttings in water to root over the winter. I presently have them outdoors, where it has gotten down to 40 degrees over-night. Can I leave them out or in the GH at 40 degrees over the winter or should I bring them in the house and have them at 68 degrees?
I read that monica keeps hers in water in her GH, but I am not sure what temp. her GH is?
No frost expected until next month...but I would like to know what to be ready to do, if and when it does come!
What will cold do to them? Delay rooting or kill them?
Margie
Rooting cuttings...how cold can it get and still be OK?
Margie, I left a bucket full of cuttings in water sitting in my cold garage all winter and they all rooted. I don't think it get's down to 40 in there, but I would think they would be O.k. to 40 degrees. Maybe someone with more experience can tell us for sure.
Hi Margie & Patricia!! I'm kinda in the same fix that you two are - I don't know if I should pot to root or put them in a bucket of water. So, here's what I'm gonna do - both! Since I have better luck rooting in pots, I'll do that with the ones that are REALLY special and put lots of others in water and if the do, great, and if they don't, hopefully I'll have the potted ones rooted, and, I will still have those in the ground that I hope will come back next spring. In the meantime, I'm planting seeds too. Surely, outta all that, something will work, ya think??
I have no clue for I root all of mine indoors in the winter. Sorry!
I also root mine inside. I think they need heat and light to actively grow...
Edited to add: if you're just wanting to hold them over and root them in the Spring, that's a different story. If you are wanting them to actively grow over the winter, they need good growing conditions. JMHO...
This message was edited Nov 5, 2004 7:00 PM
I just looked up monikas thread on growing cuttings in the GH over winter...
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/407953/
Looks like I asked about temp. there (and forgot)...Monika said that she keeps her GH at 41-46 degrees F and cuttings would be OK, except for versicolors...needing 53-59 degrees F !
Let me Clarify my last post. I leave all my extra cuttings rooting in water in the garage. Anything I am planning on planting for myself in the Spring, I will pot up and keep in the warm greenhouse until Spring. I did however keep cuttings rooting in water in the garage last winter. I didn't have my greenhouse at the time, and had just had surgery. So I didn't really have a choice. Early Spring I potted the rooted cuttings up and they all survived just fine. Anything that is very special, I will put in water until I see the little white nubs on the stems and then pot up. If I didn't have the greenhouse heater, I would be bringing them into the house and putting them in a warm bright location , or have them under lights.
Thank you Patricia and others for answering my question....so many decisions to make every day on the care of these beloved plants!