There have been a lot of questions about whether to root cuttings in Winter or store the cutting dry until Spring and then root.

Most people prefer to root in early Summer outdoors, when temps are higher and light levels are high...also, when the plants naturally want to come out of dormancy. This is probably the IDEAL time to root.

If I find I have cuttings available to me in Fall or Winter, I prefer to Winter root, but that's my own preference. Our growing season is so short that I like to get my cuttings started as soon as I can. Since I usually end up having to trim some of my big 'trees' in Fall I do end up with many cuttings at that time of year.

I have had stored cuttings go bad on me over winter though. Our house humidity is quite dry in Winter. Cuttings of smaller diameter varieties such as 'Plastic Pink' seem to be a bit more vulnerable to dessication. Maybe they would be better off stored in a box with some newspaper, I don't know.

In any case, I'm including a photo of my 'Hilo Beauty' (deep red) plumeria that just rooted. This was a branch that broke off in a September storm. Stored for a few weeks and then put in a very porous mix in October. I kept it under lights kept on for about 12 hours. I did mist the cutting ocassionally with a spray bottle. The leaves started to expand in mid-December, so it took roughly 8 or 9 weeks to root. The room it's in is warm - I'd say at least 75 degrees. And not much cooler when the lights are off -- maybe only a few degrees.

I've heard that reds can be difficult to root, but I've had no problems getting this to root -- in Winter. I think daylength (at least 12 hours or more) and warmth (over 70 degrees) are important for success. If you don't have a warm room, use heat mats, heaters, etc.

Here's Hilo Beauty in bloom: