yes its a bit tricky, to figure out, but you re already doing the right thing - ask lots of good questions!

theres also several ways to go, like in much of gardening, theres several "right ways" to do it...different people have very specific methods they insist is the best way, i have found that theres a lot of variation in people's methods. some are very precise, some are not, i am not a very precise person in general, so thats the way i take cuttings. then again i m happy if i get a few to take, where the really precise people probably get most to work.

the things i think are most important are the right time of year (which unfortunately can vary by plant) but is usually now ish (just started into dormancy), and then again just before they come out of dormancy (bud break, early spring). but some plants can be cut in mid summer/during the growing season.

i find berries, and some of the trees you mentioned pretty difficult to get rooted. please do feel free to experiment and allow yourself some room for mistakes, but i wont try to root out cherry or apple, though i sometimes try peach and plum. better with these if you had some rootstock to graft them onto, but its difficult in my limited experience to get them to root on their own. berry canes also give me a hard time, i dont think i have ever gotten them to work with straight cuttings.

with berries i am on a major air layering and /or ground layering kick, i am really loving it because its much easier and is working out well for me. i ground layered the blueberries, all the berry canes i could find that had enough there to ground layer, as well i just successfully ground layered a passionflower, which i found extremely easy! very exciting to pick up the rocks and see all those roots. last year i air layered the citrus trees we have here, it took a long time but i ended up with four new trees =). so soon i will look to what trees to air layer this year...starting with when it starts getting a bit warmer here, but before bud break.

the basic gist anyway of taking cuttings and then mailing them...is to first cut some sizable (they say "diameter of a pencil or larger", but you can try small ones too) pieces of the plant. i like to take my cuttings long, you can cut them down later, or into two cuttings later. then immediately stick them in water. use moist napkins, coffee filters and paper towels to wrap up the cut end and hold moisture against the cutting, then surround it with plastic wrap, a plastic bag tied on tight, or hold the whole thing together with an elastic or twisty tie. then i put the entire thing in plastic, like a grocery store bag or a ziplock or even creatively using the recycling (salad containers, plastic containers, etc)...so now it can be put in a package.

theres a lot of other details though, i suppose i will leave that to another..

and just cause i am jazzed on layering heres some more info, plus i dont use the method outlined in the first link (theres several variations in the right way to air layer too!)

all kinds of different ways to layer --->click here

this is more like the method i use to air layer --->

except without honey, using rooting hormone....though i like the idea of trying the honey. willow water is another thing used instead of rooting hormones.

well i may be wandering too far from your main questions, but if you do this method you could have rooted out plants to ship, which is a better trade...

Hello, what 7 kinds of mints do you have because I am looking for about of mints! I already have Chocolate mint, spearmint, and orange mint I think (but could use more). Just message me and on Monday I will have time to update my trade list. Sorry that it is not ready yet.

Thanks

My mints will not be ready yet. It got cold and they decided that 20 degrees is winter. They are still green but showing signs of not liking the cold. I have them in the garage and trying to get them to forget that it's winter. They will make it into my house once I make room and convince hubby that there's no other way.

Chocolate Mint

Pineapple Mint

Sweet Mint

Apple Mint

Julep Mint

Peppermint

Mojito Mint

Lemon Mint

Looks like I can't count!! I have 8 mints :) Also I have an order of Spearmint seeds I am getting. I would love to have some of your orange mint!! Once mine get to a length I can trim I would be more than glad to send you some. Shain, sent you a message :)

Great, I will check my messages. My orange mint decided to go dormant already. Also it was not a big plant yet to give you roots and stems. I would like Lemon mint, Apple mint, and Pineapple mint.

So far I have orange mint, spearmint, and chocolate mint. I will message you, thanks