Debbie, none of my first cuttings had leaves - they appear quickly as the roots form. I have rooted both by the water method and planting them in soil, and have had good results with both. Many of my cuttings were over an inch in diameter, but some broken by the wind have been very small. All rooted well - so don't throw anything away.

DebbieP, I would recommend that you try a to treat this like you would an a nana in the ground. Take some stakes and mesh and make like a box shape with the brug in the center. Then fill it with straw to cover the trunk and keep it warm. Try this to see if it will work and just cut the brug about one leaf nod above the 'Y.' Or cut it to the ground and select some nice limbs with 'Y' as those would be the best to replace the one left in the ground. Tip/Green cuttings can be tricky to start if you are trading your cuttings.

debbie,here in north georgia,we cut the stalks off at ground level,and mulch.most varieties come back every year,i've got some that are now on their 3rd year in the ground.one unknown pink comes back evrey year,but is so sickly looking when it comes back-it never blooms-but in soth georgia,they all ought to come back from the root.

HELP!! This is my first year tying to root cuttings, and things are not going well. after I cut back my plants (2) I took all the cuttings and have them in water, changing the water every couple of days. The roots form great, and then I pot them up, but now the new little plants keep dropping leaves, and I don't think at this rate they'll make it till next spring. What am I doing wrong? Can I just leave them in water, all winter, as long as I keep changing it every couple days? I cut the plants back in intervals, so I have cuttings in all stages at this point. I really would hate to loose all these cuttings. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

How about remove the leaves so you don't have to watch them drop off and make a mess? Leave them in the soil for a better plant in the long run. No do not put them back into the water but again someone else will come along and tell you to put them in. What have you got for heat and light?

Capish, I alway cut off the large leaves from my cuttings, so that the energy goes to the roots. I found in the past that the large leaves always fell anyway. Once they are potted, put them into a warm, room temperature place that is well lit, but not direct lighting. Give them a good water, and then don't water again until you see the soil starting to dry up and shrink from the side of the pot. You will note that the small leaves start to go a little limp. This dryness forces the plant to send out roots looking for water. Then water. When you see tiny roots starting to show from the drainage holes, then you should put into more direct light, and water on a more regular basis. It will reward you for your care and kindness to it.

I would not put it back into water either. I firmly believe that the plant will be happier if you can give it the nourishment that soil provides. The water rooting method ( brugs in a bucket) works well, and is useful for a situation where one does not have space to pot up and give adequate light for the winter. It is also a great way to get the roots started. I've got some set up that way right now, but I will pot them up and put them under lights for the winter.

Thanks for all the input. I did originally remove all but 2 small leaves when I put the cuttings into water. Should I continue to remove the new leaves that grow on the cuttings? All the cuttings, even the ones potted are in an eastern window with a small plant light that I leave on 24/7. I haven't provided any additional heat though...should I? Thanks again!!

If it is at room temperature, that extra heat should not be necessary. If the window area is cold and draughty, that is another story. Regarding the leaves, I don't think it is wise to pick leaves off the plant until it has nice healthy leaves where you want it, if you are striving for a specific form. Remember, the leaves are a vital part of food production. New leaves means it is trying to live and regenerate itself.

It does take some time before the roots establish themselves. Sometimes, one loses a cutting, but they are usually pretty good at rooting. I remember one year, I received 3 cuttings each being a foot long. Unfortunately they were green tip cuttings. 2 of them died quickly. The last one kept rotting in the soil. I was down to the last quarter inch of the cutting, so I coated it with rooting hormone, and potted it yet again. It lived, and grew, and was the base to many of my Frosty Pink plants......all from a quarter of an inch.

Did you add any rooting hormone to your cutting? I usually do that as it seems to help.

The windows are only 2 yrs old so should be pretty air tight, and no I didn't add any rooting hormone. The roots develop really well, it's just after they've been potted up for a while that they start dropping the new leaves. Is the light on all night too much for them? Would it be better to give them some down time? Thanks again.

I missed that point when replying. I had intended to say that I think down time is a good thing for all living things. Plants reverse their transpiration (CO2 to O2) system at night, so it makes sense to me that they be given this opportunity. Save some hydro while you're at it.

Supplemental light is good but, like anything else, too much is not so good. Try to copy the nature... turn the lights off around 9-10:00 and turn them back on around 6-7:00 in the morning. All plants need their rest.
I too believe that you shouldn't put the plants back in the water. I think soil is better.

Valentina

Well. I have started only having the light on during day-light hours, and am getting ready to pot up the majority of the rootings....however..... the rootings that I planted up over a month ago appaer to be doing well, but they keep dropping leaves on and off. Is there something I'm missing here? I'm going to pot up all but a handfull of rootings, these I'm going to try to keep alive in water all winter. Anybody have any more thoughts or suggestions? I really appreciate everyones input. Thanks!

If there are no bugs of some kind, maybe it is too dry?
There must be a reason for this, but I cannot think of anything else.
Are the leaves that fall also yellow? Or dry? Can you tell us? Maybe post a picture? Maybe the soil is too wet?

Valentina

I am not able to post a picture yet, I sure wish I could. The leaves are not yellow,but green and somewhat soft or almost wilted-like. If anything I'm guessing maybe the soil is too wet. There were little aphids/mites(?) several weeks ago, but I sprayed as soon as I noticed them. Are bugs going to be a problem all winter? I finished potting up the cuttings today, so now there are 45 in pots, and 10 I'll leave in water. The ones in water...I was thinking maybe I should trim the roots when the roots start getting too big. I really want them all to grow, but honestly-I'd prefer they slow down a bit till closer to spring!!! I guess I want it all!!!! Thanks again.