Once your plants have rooted they need potted up or planted. In most cases I will pot up the newly rooted cuttings to help them grow stronger and more established root systems before planting in the garden. Potting up cuttings is a very simple process but there are a few small things to keep in mind. For information on growing those plants featured here from cuttings check out the posts below:
- Rooting Boxwoods from Cuttings
- Propagating Viburnums
- Rooting Camellias from Cuttings (YouTube Video)
When Do I Pot Up the Rooted Cuttings?
When I propagate cuttings I like to use plastic pots. Normally these pots are reused from plant purchases that I fill with my rooting medium then place in a large flat with no holes in it. The flat keeps the water in the area of the cuttings longer and prevents them from drying out too quickly. I know it’s time to pot up my cuttings by looking underneath the pot and checking to see if roots are beginning to emerge from the drainage holes. If they are I know it’s time to pot them up! If roots are not coming from the pots I give the cuttings more time to develop.
What Soil Do I Use for Rooted Cuttings?
If I have the time I will make a soil mix using a blend of 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat (or coir), and 1/3 Soil conditioner (can be mixed with perlite or vermiculite). It’s a very basic soil recipe for potting up plants. If you use peat you will want to add some lime to the mix to balance the acidity.
Another soil mix I use is with premade soil mixes from the store. I mix the store bought mixes with soil conditioner to help improve drainage and incorporate organic matter.
How to Pot Up The Cuttings
The most important thing about potting up cuttings is being very gentle with the roots. They can be very fragile and the newly rooted cuttings may not have large enough root systems to handle losing a few roots.
Plant cuttings so that the crown of the plant is just above the soil surface when the soil settles. The crown of the roots is where the roots transition to the growing portion of the plant stem that is above the soil. I fill the pots before planting with soil then hold the cutting where I want the crown to be. Then I gradually fill with soil until it can stand on it’s own.
After filling the pot I tamp it down gently so that the soil can compress and push out any air pockets in the soil. Lastly I’ll water it in and add additional soil if needed after the soil settles.
Potting up cuttings is pretty much just like transplanting a plant. Just be a little more careful and cautious of those little baby roots! Check out the video below to see the process on viburnums, hydrangeas, and a little boxwood!
How to Root and Grow Russian Sage from Cuttings (Plant Propagation)
I’ve propagated many plants over the years and one of my favorite plants to propagate is Russian sage. Yesterday I was able to transplant several Russian sage cuttings (Perovskia atriplicifolia*) into pots to grow for a little while until I can plant them in the…
Results from Rooting Winter Jasmine, Crape Myrtles, and Viburnums
It’s been a while since I’ve talked much about plant propagation so that means it’s time to talk plant propagation! Here’s a picture update of what has been rooting in my garden. Almost all the following plants were kept in my simple plant propagation chamber…
Garden Tips for Before a Frost
As the first frost approaches, now is the time to take essential steps to protect your garden and set yourself up for success next spring. Below are a few simple garden tips that can help you save money and preserve your favorite plants while extending…
Variegated Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) ‘Mariesii Variegata’
A couple years ago I propagated a variegated hydrangea from a beautiful hydrangea that was in my wife’s aunt’s garden. Hydrangeas are extremely easy to propagate and well worth the effort but unfortunately the spot I chose to plant it wasn’t good enough. I had…
Plant Propagation by Cuttings, Tips and Other Information
Propagating plants by cuttings is by far the most common way I propagate plants. When you take a cutting from a plant you are making an exact genetic duplicate of the original plant. Essentially it’s a clone. No you won’t see any George Lucas movies…
Propagating Grape Vines with Greenwood Cuttings
I’m always looking for new plants to experiment on to see if I can get them to root. Yesterday I took some cuttings from a grape vine at my mom’s house. Grape vines are pretty popular with home gardeners who want to grow their own…
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