You might try the plant propogating forum.
Duane

Hit the library or bookstore for a book called "Making More Plants" by Ken Druse. It has everything you could possibly need. It's well the purchase. It will pay for itself in plant savings in no time.

Thanks for the book title. I've reserved it! Also, I had looked for a forum but couldn't find it. After looking again, I did. duh! :)

I know that there was a thread or two on this forum about using the same basic winter sowing techniques for cuttings. I have done a number of cuttings outside in a shady location using a clear plastic bin. I also highly recommend the book "Plant Propagation" by the American Horticultural Society. Lots of pictures!

- Brent

Is the Plant Propagation book just about growing from cuttings or does it cover seeds also?

Stroup

I'll paste in a link that might be helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Propagation

The "American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation" book does cover growing from seeds....though I cannot say I have spent much time reading those sections...winter sowing is just too easy!

- Brent

I have had some success with propogating from cuttings and yes, I am somewhat new to using my green thumb.

How did I learn to do cuttings?

First, if I wanted a plant and thought I could get it from a cutting ( or any other way for that matter ), I did a search on the web for 'plant name propogation' and voila! I had all the info I needed.

I have thereby successfully propogated Oriental Arbor Vitae, Potato Bush and Red Ruffled Azalea from cuttings and Bird of Paradise from separation of rhizomes. These two cloning methods are actually common. Consider also, that you can graft some plants onto another to get them started.

Rhizome separation is probably the simplest thing as all you do is separate rhizomes so that you have at least one growing bud on the piece you cut away and you'll get a new plant. The number of plants sporting rhizomes is only a small percentage of the whole however.

Cuttings on the other hand need to be approached in terms of soft or hard wood types. If you search for 'Propogation Cuttings', you are bound to find some web pages that actually categorize many plants into hard or soft wood propogation classes. You are best off taking cuttings from near the base of the plant, not the extreme ends and this is best done during the plants dormancy. It is also best to make sure your cuttings are NOT too long. Apparently length creates a competition among the cuttings cells for nutrition from the cutting itself prior to it rooting which can jeopardize your success. Your cuttings will come to life in Spring and you can take cuttings late into the spring for certain plants. Note that it is also best to transplant well situated mature plants while they are dormant, in winter months.

Search for BearState on this web site and look at my Backyard Nursery posting for pictures of a few of the cuttings I have done and well as some other of my propogation experiments.

My toughest plant propogation experiements involve seeds like Ginkgo seed which require 'stratification', Heliconia Seeds which are hard as pebbles and seem stuborn as rock and very small seed or spores like Puya or Tasmanian Tree Fern which germinate sprouts so small that a rain drop will wash them away.

I've also noted that direct sunlight can burn seedlings and cause their demise, too much water can drown some of them and so forth. Keep a journal and note what works and what doesn't. And use the web to benifit from the experience of others.