| Softwood cuttings should be taken from April to | | | | do better in a propagator, whilst others do better |
| August, Depending on where you live, you may be | | | | just using polythene. I suggest using a polythene |
| able to start taking middle of march. | | | | method to begin with, If you struggle with any |
| Step one for taking cuttings | | | | plants, trying them on a propagator. |
| Cut off a plants healthy side shoot roughly 3 to 4 | | | | Step four for taking cuttings |
| inches long, with 3 to 4 pairs of leaves and no flower | | | | Leave your cuttings in your greenhouse or polytunnel |
| buds. The cut should be made just below the leaf | | | | for approximately 2 to 4 weeks. You must check |
| node (the point where the leaves grow out the | | | | them every day, and every 2 days spray them with |
| stem). Remove the bottom leaves, just leaving 2 | | | | a fine mist to stop them trying out. If you take the |
| leaves on the cutting, this should give you 1to 1.5 | | | | cuttings in July and August, it is probably better to |
| inches of bare stem. If you have some softwood | | | | place them underneath your bench in the daytime as |
| rooting hormone you can dip the bottoms in that, but | | | | they may scorch if they are in direct sunlight. |
| it is not essential. | | | | Step five for taking cuttings |
| Step two for taking cuttings | | | | After about one week the cutting should start to |
| Fill a small plastic pot or shallow tray with a | | | | have roots on them. Once 70%-80% of the cuttings |
| combination of seed compost and grit. Use your cane | | | | have started to root,or about 60% anyway, remove |
| to make holes about 1 inch apart. Place one cutting in | | | | the polythene at night times, then place it back on in |
| each hole and firm down. Put a label in your plant pot | | | | the day. Do this for about a week before leaving the |
| or tray, and water with a fine rose watering can, or | | | | Polythene off altogether (make sure we have a few |
| use the mist gun. | | | | cloudy days when you remove the polythene to |
| Step three for taking cuttings | | | | stop scorch). |
| To retain moisture and warmth. If you have used a | | | | Step six for taking cuttings |
| pot, put a clear plastic bag over the cutting and fix | | | | Once they've been out of polythene for about three |
| with a elastic band. If you have used a seed tray | | | | weeks, You can pot them into individual pots. Leave |
| cover with a piece of polythene making sure to prop | | | | them in the greenhouse or polytunnel for a few |
| the polythene up, so it doesn't touch the cuttings. An | | | | weeks before moving them outside. |
| alternative to this is to use a electric propagator. You | | | | Taking cuttings is more experemental than scientific |
| can get a small cheap one to start with, and if you | | | | and it will depend on if you have green fingers. |
| get on well upgrade to a larger one. Some cuttings | | | | |