It works for me but I don't have a clear idea of what percentage of them go on to do ok. I often mark the label, " No roots" when I stick a calloused cutting in potting soil. I see many go on to make plants so I am pretty confident of potting them up at that stage. In fact sometimes I think it is better to do so before roots have formed as there is no risk of breaking them when potting up. I don't have any recommendations for how to succeed better with it. I am waiting until this little flurry of heat passes before I pot more up or take more cuttings. I'm chancing taking cuttings into fall. It can work, not always, but I'm in a little warmer climate in NC , zone 7. What are you going to do with your babies during the winter?

Thank you, erasmus. That's a good idea to mark 'NR' on the tag. I usually just note the strike and pot up dates. What I generally do even with those that have rooted is pop the cutting out of the pot and put potting mix in the bottom of the same or slightly larger pot, then replace the whole thing on top so as not to disturb the delicate roots. It usually works with my medium. However, it sometimes falls away and then it's been a quandary if it's only callus. I figured it should be OK as I've read one can pot up callused cuttings when using the 'burrito' method, but I've never been successful with that method yet. It was recommended that I might try a light dusting with root hormone or water them with a dilute solution, but I'm afraid to do that since I know that too much hormone can actually inhibit rooting. I guess I'll try a few and see what mother nature does.

My records show I've had success with cuttings taken through late Oct. last year and it was much colder then. Those might have been stuck directly in the ground which would have remained warm for a while. Amending the soil with wood compost and chips has often helped things along using that method. I should probably write that on the tag as well to see which has a better rate. I just did a few yesterday in pots so keeping my fingers crossed as they are rare ones.

I over winter the new cuttings inside either my glass vestibule or a very cool solarium with a florescent light on after dark for a few hours.They continue to grow, but at a VERY reduced rate until day length expands again. They receive minimal water, but enough to keep them from drying out. Last year I experimented with a lighter mix (more perlite), but it was hard to keep them moist enough. I did that because the prior year some had died from being to cold and wet. However, I now realize that was only with those I put outside in the cold wet rain. I'm returning to my "normal" potting medium this year, and will just be sure not to overwater. To prevent aphids and white fly, I spray with some sort of insecticide prior to bringing them in, even if it's tobacco tea.

Gagal, used a cheap small DIY hoop house over her cuttings during the winter and kept them outside. They did great, but she's in Z8 Georgia. I could probably do that until it gets really cold, but I have so many. : ((

I keep intending to try watering some unrooted cuttings with a solution of hormone powder mixed in a gallon of water. I don't know how much to use. If you experiment with it, I'd love to hear the results. I will probably try it soon...I will probably use 1/4 to 1/2 t. per gallon to start with.

I have a ridiculous baby plant protection strategy. I leave them all outside but move them to the warm side of my house. Then if temps get below about ten degrees I move them under my house until it warms up slightly. Might try a hoop house...I just worry they'd dry out without me being able to see them readily. I picture a little 2' hoop house. Cold frames would be nice also.

When I tried the burrito method the cuttings calloused nicely but all died when stuck in potting soil. Some other people have had the same result. Might try again. I wonder if a fungicide would help. Or maybe it was that the cuttings were shocked going from high humidity to much lower humidity.

You're lucky you have some places indoors that work well for you.

That's a very complicated winter strategy! I wish I could do that as it would be much easier. However, I may leave mine out longer in that case and let them go a bit more dormant.

I wonder if brushing a LIGHT coating of rooting hormones on the calluses would help transplant with the burrito method or perhaps covering them with something. My solarium and vestibule are lower humidity, but that doesn't seem to hurt. It could also be that so many plants give off a lot of humidity on their own.

Is a very short cutting worth planting? My kids snapped off a three inch piece of Mandarin Sunblaze about three weeks ago. It had tiny buds so I put it in a teacup of water on the windowsill. The buds fell off soon after but the leaves stayed healthy and I noticed today that the base has callused. I don't want to plant it and lose it, but I don't know how long cuttings can last in plain water either.

I hope someone answers Joey. I have not done that successfully from water. However I have pot it up quite short cuttings and they've done as well as longer ones. Sometimes better!