How late in the year is too late to root cuttings outside in southern California zone 9-10 (Costa Mesa/Newport Beach area)? How late in the year does FCN ship their grafted plants to California? Are the choices slimmer this time of year from FCN? Or, do they ship all year long? Wanting some new varieties but don't know if I should wait until Feb/March to order them. Thank you.
Marsha
Time of Year in SoCAL to root cuttings?
Hi Marsha! Welcome to Dave's and the Plumie Forum!
It is quite cool now for this time of year. I think the Weather Channel said that it is about 10 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year. Yesterday, I put some of my more precious cuttings and grafts on several heat mats and set up my mini greenhouse again, and I bought another greenhouse from Harbor Freight Tools as my old one was worn out. Bottom heat and soil temperature over 80 degrees are essential for rooting cuttings, and in the fall, we start to lose that advantage. Some cuttings, such as Celadine, will root effortlessly no matter what the temp, but most cuttings are more willing to rot in cold, damp soil than root. I would not start cuttings outside this late in the year unless I put a heat mat underneath them.
Soon, some of the country will be experiencing freezing temps, and FC will stop shipping until spring. You'll have to check with them about when they stop shipping, and I recommend calling them instead of emailing them. You can probably still get them to ship grafted plants to you until November since you are here in So. Cal, but grafted plants that are shipped bareroot need time to adjust to their new containers and environment, and cool weather is not ideal for that. If you have a greenhouse or a set up with heat pads and lights inside, then that is more ideal than having them adjust outside.
I would call Florida Colors and talk to Luc or Carol and tell them that Clare told you to call:-) Tell them what you want to order, and they will tell you whether they have it in stock and can send it to you now. If they are out of some varieties, which they may be, then they will tell you to check back in the spring.
Edited to fix margins and spelling.
This message was edited Sep 14, 2006 12:34 PM
Clare and Hetty,
Thank you very much for your advice. I will give Luc or Carol a call. Although this is my first post, I have been reading all the posts on this forum for a while - I love all you beautiful photos, Clare.
Marsha
Thanks, Marsha! Luc and Carol are so nice! Tell them I said hi and then come back and tell us what cultivars you got! LOL! I bought a bunch earlier this year from them.
hi marsha,
i don't have much to offer about rooting in your area. i just wanted to jump on the fcn bandwagon. i can't say enough good thinks about fcn and luc and carol. they've been around for a while making plumeria affordable and enjoyable.
dete
I agree:-)
I was posting at the same time as Hetty was above and didn't see her post until after I had posted mine, but we said basically the same thing. I am a little nervous right now because it is cooler than normal here, and it is starting to feel like fall now when we normally don't get fall temps until mid-November. My nervousness even made me buy a new greenhouse. In any case, if you want to order now, you really should go for it, and then just provide the needed bottom heat through the fall and winter. There are little mini-greenhouses that you can buy for just $20 that would house plenty of rooting cuttings.