Once the cuttings root you want to get them into a potting mix so that the nutrients in the soil will help feed the plant. If I were to leave them too long in the sand medium I use for cuttings the new plants would fail. Here they are potted up next to some vinca minor. (Don't worry I have a special place or this vinca.) These cuttings are now in a morning sun only location to get acclimated for the outdoors. In the middle of the potted cuttings you can see two very tiny Russian sage plants. These were a discovery I made yesterday when I moved one of my Russian sages to a new garden bed (future post). It's nice to find unexpected seedlings. These should be very similar to my 'Longin' Russian sage since that was where I found them, but as always with seeds they may not be true, but probably true enough!
A couple of these will go in the garden, a couple will be given away, and a couple will be traded. The seedlings will also go in the garden. Since I potted up my nine Russian sage cuttings I had room for some more cuttings in the garage. I added fourteen new cuttings this morning! I love free plants.
Dave, I found some seedlings of Baptisia under the mother plant and wonder what color they will be...maybe they will revert to true purple baptisia....I will have to wait for a few years to see!
ReplyDeleteYou are a very successful propagator!
Gail
I love free plants too!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! You are ambitious. I am darting around with trays of seedlings over here, trying to get the veggie garden planted. I usually cheat with larger plants, but this year I am "digging deeper" and getting into the process more. It's more work, that's all I can say!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your cutting updates ~ it is great to be able to propagate our most beloved plants, and I am not always sure which ones will work. I will be using this 'borrowed' knowledge for sure! :)
Gail,
ReplyDeleteIt's exciting to find new volunteers isn't it! I'm hoping to find a few more here and there. As they grow they will definitely be the subject of more propagation.
Tina,
Can't beat the price. Unless someone decided to pay you to take a plant. If you find someone like that let me know!
Jen in TN,
All knowledge is borrowed at some point. For me every attempt at propagation is an experiment. Just pick a plant and give it a go!
I tried taking some in the autumn here but they failed. I think I timed it wrong and having read your post I will try again and use sand as you suggest
ReplyDeleteHelen,
ReplyDeleteSterilized sand works really well. It gives the cutting support so it stands upright and it doesn't have any pathogens that can harm your cutting. Spring and summer are better for softwood or greenwood cuttings since it will give the plant time to grow roots and harden off before winter. Let me know how it goes!
One of the Russian sages I bought last year died. I'll have to try your propagating method to replace it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I saw your post about taking cuttings from Russian Sage. I would like to try it. What month should I do the cuttings? Also, where can I buy rooting hormone?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Neil
Hi Neil!
ReplyDeleteI like to take green cuttings in the spring. 3-4 inches long with about 2-3 nodes works great. They root well with internodal cuttings. I've done cuttings of Russian sage all the way through the summer but the fastest germination rates are in spring when the plants are actively growing. I picked up on container of rooting hormone from one of our local big box stores but if they don't have it check your local coop they should. Good luck with your cuttings!