Not sure who would have posted that and what zone they are in, but for you in the Chicago area I am not sure if that is the way to go since you can still have very cold weather until spring actually arrives and then some afterwards. It seems to me that putting cuttings into the soil or leaf mold pile and covering them up would result in them freezing to death long before anything would root.

Linked below is an article on how to root cuttings that might work more advantageously in your zone.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clematis from cuttings.

Miguel, how do you do it, if you ever do?

Just curious...

I've had success with using perlite. Fill a plastic glass with perlite. Put water in... cut a few holes at the bottom edge of this glass to drain the water. I use a tip cutting with 2 pairs of leaves. Dip the stem in gel rooting hormone, make a hole in the middle of the glass of perlite. Insert the stem and firm the perlite around it. Next, take a 2nd plastic glass, put in about 1/4 inch of water and put the 1st glass inside the 2nd one. Keep the water at that level. I had roots in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Joan

Thanks, Joan, that sounds easy enough.

Violetta, the only time I have ever attempted to root any clematis cuttings was when I found the colony of wild viorna in the nearby park and wanted one badly and didn't want to wait for seed to germinate. I must have taken 25+ cuttings and proceeded to try to root them even though the species clematis are said to be extremely difficult to propagate by cuttings. I tried a variety of mediums and rooting hormones and finally got one to root using a gravely mix of potting soil,perlite, and chicken grit and rooting hormone (dry powdery type). I also reduced the amount of leaf surface by trimming the leaf area back siginificantly, misted the plant twice a day, and kept it tented in a plastic bag to raise the humidity level.

For me, I would rather buy clematis or get them by layering due to my experience trying to propagate by cuttings. Much easier, less stress, and less work involved. As I have said many times prior, patience is something that is in short supply for me but I am attempting to cultivate it by growing clematis from seed. One thing at a time! LOL

I tend to agree with Miguel. If the plant you want to propogate is your own, then layering is the way I would go. Less stress and work. I only tried this perlite method to see if it would work for me, as I had not have any success trying to root cuttings in potted soil.
Joan

I dabble with starting cuttings when I do my annual pruning in February. I take about a 6" piece, dip it into rooting hormone and put it in regular potting soil and keep it moist. Some of them take, some of them don't.
I've got about 20 small pots from this year. The type 3's tend to take better than any of the others.
I keep them outside in part shade near the hose so I remember to water them.

Wanda

One thing to point out here is that Wanda is in zone 9 in California and the OP is in Chicago. I find it hard to imagine that clematis in Chicago at this time of year would have enough soft new growth to be able to propagate any way. Later in the season yes, but most articles I have seen on taking cuttings use relatively new wood to do them with. I am no expert here in that matter however since I have only done it once on a plant I couldn't purchase! ;)

I enjoy experimenting outside the box. It seems to me that the buried cut stems might form calluses and root somewhat like hardwood grape cuttings. How can I tell if the stems are dead or dormant? I will have a big pile of prunings to work with, otherwise they're just waste.

If you cut into the stems and there is green, the cuttings are alive. Give it a go. You definitely don't have anything to lose!