How and why I take cuttings of tender plants to over winter and plant out next spring

[@christophedelamusiquedesar7878]

I love your relationship with nature and your so heartfelt, practical guidance as to how we can develop our own understanding and experience with more confidence. Right now, you are a timely teacher in my life, and I thank and love you.

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you so much x

[@fatapadgitt9554]

Thank you so much for the lovely instruction. I live in Corvallis, Oregon, USA. We have similar weather here in the Willamette Valley and I can hear the rain and wind outside my window as I type. I'm a Master Gardener here in the USA which is to say that I've been through a course through my local University, but part of being an avid gardener is keeping one's eyes and ears open when someone appears on the horizon who imparts a wealth of knowledge in a such a thorough and charming way as you yourself do. So, thank you much! Fatarae

[@theflowerfarmer]

ah thank you so much Fatarae xxx and you're very welcome to the channel x

[@wjs5773]

Your description of how to take a cutting is actually the most helpful I have ever seen ( and I’ve watched a lot). Thank you as ever.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Glad it was helpful! x

[@mailrhian]

I could listen to you for hours 🌷🌼

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@samanthaw1419]

I'm planning to move this winter, leaving my garden of 16 years...I've collected millions (literally) of seeds and taken hundreds of cuttings..it's so easy to do! I have 60 hydrangea cuttings for example..no rooting hormones, literally just placed in garden earth. I've used cutting hormones for roses and shrubs....hundreds of plants. its easy and fun.

[@theflowerfarmer]

so exciting! I took cuttings for years without rooting powder but for some reason lost my nerve earlier this year with dahlia cuttings because the season was so late and I was worried they wouldn't root in time - and now I have this little pot of rooting powder so I may as well use it up - ideas on this list of using both willow and honey as rooting aids seem very sensible to me so I will experiment x

[@wjs5773]

@@theflowerfarmer someone mentioned recently that honey and cinnamon powder are good rooting aids too.

[@joecannon5593]

Thank you. Good info. Now I realize what I have been doing wrong. Trying again tomorrow. My name is not Joe. Just using my husband's phone since mine took a dive into the toilet earlier this spring and am too frugal to put out for a new one since his works perfectly fine and he never ever uses his.

[@theflowerfarmer]

lol - v sensible to steal the phone x

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

You are my new pleasure , you make learning fun . ❤ love your style .

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you ! x

[@patti5874]

Thank you so much for this awesome video! I am going to propagate vegetative cuttings with my students next week!

[@theflowerfarmer]

go for it x

[@pollywaffledoodah3057]

Here in sunny Australia, it's the done thing to dip your cuttings in honey - an old gardening chap once told me that it was because good honey from a good beekeeper, will kill the diseases that cause rot. Nature has all the answers - as usual! By the way, I loved what you said in the previous vlog, about not washing every single day, that it just wasn't necessary,. I confess that I do that too, every now and then, when I've been inside all day, sketching or painting - and haven't worked up a sweat. But from now on, whenever I skip a shower, I'm going to say I'm 'doing a Georgie'!!

[@theflowerfarmer]

lol - v glad to discover so many keen non-washers in my community here - we'll all save the planet one less bath at a time - and I think I'm going to do a trial next year with honey, rooting powder, willow tea, and nothing, to see what roots best - though imagine all will work well x

[@karenhenderson2624]

I'm in Italy and I also use honey.

[@sharonoleary9935]

I love you I love your rants

[@theflowerfarmer]

lol - rant rant rant x

[@Cookontherun7391]

Hi there. It is the end of August here in Alberta Canada. I have tried propagating cuttings in the past and hoping this year I will be successful. Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial. Your potting shed is absolutely beautiful. ❤️🇨🇦

[@theflowerfarmer]

Good luck! X

[@bettinawoodson7344]

This was perfect and now I have a bit more confidence to expand my garden for next year with minimal $ spent. I’m most grateful. Thank you

[@theflowerfarmer]

Glad it was helpful! x

[@donnajames7912]

I have taken cuttings from my Salvia Armistead, they rooted within a week, and really grew like crazy, I’ve already potted them on , I’m just hoping I can nurture them on throughout the winter as they have grown quite a lot. We are finally moving after 3 years into our own property , with a greenhouse, so hopefully they will live be ok. Thank you for your brilliant advice, especially cutting down the stem to divide the cutting, I will be trying this!! Enjoying your videos and advice.

[@theflowerfarmer]

sounds fab - how lovely to have a greenhouse! you will love it x

[@CrazyCatLady1968]

This was so clear & so great at explaining why! I’m in a master gardener program here in the US & they’re not always so great as to the why of things 😊

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@LINDAWATSONGARDEN]

Just love listening to you Georgie, you talk a lot of sense. I now know where I have been going wrong with cuttings. It's always been hit and miss for me, but hopefully now I should have more success. We're you a teacher in your past life. Just wondering. Great video by the way.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Good luck with the cuttings - no I've never been a teacher teacher but have taught workshops and demos since I started flower farming fourteen years ago xxx

[@KyLinda]

you are so much fun! I'm so happy I found you and your cute, red glasses :D

[@theflowerfarmer]

Welcome!! x

[@maggieshorten4938]

Delighted to discover your channel!! :) Thanks!

[@theflowerfarmer]

Thanks for coming x

[@jaynetanner3757]

very useful information and for me the most helpful bit was knowing that you stop selling flowers at the end of September, thanks 💚

[@theflowerfarmer]

You are very welcome x

[@inspiringgardenkorner]

Seeing this is perfect timing this is what I was working on and this is so inspiring

[@theflowerfarmer]

So glad! x

[@1Thedairy]

Georgie, your watering advise is very useful. I made that mistake of watering from above because the soil was crusty and I wasn’t successful with my cuttings but I am now! I love listening to your demos first thing in the morning with my cup of tea as you are always so cheerful. It was very miserable here yesterday in Somerset but today the sun is shining. Hooray!

[@theflowerfarmer]

I know the weather's been apocalyptic hasn't it - luckily dry enough between downpours today for lots of flower harvesting x

[@fruithillflowers]

STEMMY BIT! This is what I think I have been missing sometimes in my cuttings. And why they fail more often than they should. Thank you so much for this helpful video. :)

[@theflowerfarmer]

Glad it was helpful! x

[@MicheleYoung-w5s]

Very informative! This is my first winter using a greenhouse and have already begun taking cuttings. My greenhouse is not heated and I'm in the US zone 7. Hopefully my things won't freeze! Always love your videos❤

[@theflowerfarmer]

Glad it was helpful! Maybe be ready with a little horticultural fleece to fling over them on cold nights - and or line the greenhouse with bubble wrap - and or light candles in the greenhouse on cold nights x

[@mhubertcfi]

I am also planning on getting cuttings from my salvias. They become such huge plants! The hummingbirds just love them!❤

[@theflowerfarmer]

they are a secret pash of mine - which is foolish of me as I live on wet clay - but in pots outside my back door and in the back door beds (hot and dry) they flourish x

[@carolbulmer8253]

Thank you so much for this! I live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. I’ve contacted Vitax re the Organic Rooting Powder… I hope that they will deliver to me.🤞

[@theflowerfarmer]

Wonderful! x

[@ashguddu2364]

I love your videos.. you're so informative and so naturally hilarious 😄

[@theflowerfarmer]

Thank you so much!! x

[@jennyjohnson9012]

Wonderful as always Georgie. Been pouring here too so just the job for inside! xx

[@theflowerfarmer]

I'm hoping for a dryer day today - lovely wedding flowers to cut and would rather not be a drowned rat at the end of it x

[@susanschellberg4509]

Very helpful. I've successfully grown lavender , rosemary and scented geraniums from cuttings but am going to try some of your tips.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Wonderful! good luck xxx

[@rosemarybushea3517]

Absolutely addicted to your videos - have learned so much about plant propagation and thoroughly enjoy your down-to-earth, practical and often humorous presentation! Thank you!

[@theflowerfarmer]

Wow, thank you! x

[@DonnaAnderson-h9p]

Always love your videos although I just ‘discovered’ you earlier this year. Although I have been gardening in a large garden for a few decades 🫣 I am still learning new things all the time. I was especially interested in your experience of peat free compost as I have not had great results with it so far. Here in Scotland and probably in the rest of the UK, compost with added peat will no longer be sold to the home gardener from 2024, so I loved your tip about watering from below. I will try that - thank you ❤

[@theflowerfarmer]

good luck x

[@thegreenwoodelf8014]

Love your salvia trick 🙏🏻.... just about to take cuttings of my Armistads, that amethyst purple.... love 💜🫶🏻🙏🏻😁... thanks for sharing your content ✊🏼🌱

[@theflowerfarmer]

you're very welcome x

[@carolynclarke-oc8gi]

Thank you so much Georgie! I really found this so useful and has given me the confidence to try taking my own cuttings! 😊

[@theflowerfarmer]

go for it x

[@kathistucke339]

First time watching. Love it ! Can’t wait for next spring to follow along for the whole season. BTW, I’m in Arizona zone 8 b.

[@theflowerfarmer]

hello Arizona! x

[@alisonburgess345]

Good stuff - I got some snapdragon cuttings through winter in the greenhouse, which sounds a bit mad, but i've then got some pretty big plants to go out earlier. Don't know how they'll perform yet - they are an annual so it'll be interesting to see.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Yes very interesting - for me snaps will last in the garden as short lived perennials if I nurture them a bit. x

[@janewiseman8990]

Great video. Thanks. Busy weekend for me now!!

[@theflowerfarmer]

enjoy! x

[@melaniel442]

Just found your channel. This was excellent! 😊❤🌱 🌱🌱

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you - you're welcome to the channel x

[@catherineengle4196]

God bless Georgie

[@theflowerfarmer]

and you Catherine x

[@velerialangbehn6088]

Excellent demo. Thank you.

[@theflowerfarmer]

you're welcome x

[@chrisdavies6473]

Hi Georgie the type of cutting you did with rosemary is called a heel cutting which is a good description.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Yes! Thank you! x

[@dianakenney2963]

I agree, Syva grow compost is fantastic and I don't waste my money using inferior compost.

[@theflowerfarmer]

You’re so right x

[@hilshils3426]

Agree! It’s good stuff. Used by Hardy’s Nursery, Whitchurch (many Chelsea gold medals)

[@wildlifegardener-tracey6206]

Great tuition thank you.

[@theflowerfarmer]

you're welcome x

[@alliward6040]

This is great! I have rosemary and lavender I wanted to overwinter, this will solve that issue!

[@theflowerfarmer]

Best of luck! x

[@ThomasBonner-p3z]

Great demo - just love it!

[@theflowerfarmer]

thank you x

[@sarahbarton2089]

Thank you for your lovely, helpful videos. Please say how long you leave the pots , standing in water?

[@theflowerfarmer]

About half an hour - or until they feel heavy with water x

[@chrispetersen6402]

The red salvia is possibly Salvia coccinea 'Lady In Red'. I bring a pot inside for the winter, but I have another pot outside that comes back every year.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Could well be xxx

[@hilshils3426]

Red shrubby salvia….Royal Bumble? Looks like mine ❤ it

[@theflowerfarmer]

yes I think you might be right - such a great plant x

[@hilshils3426]

Very interested to see you pot up your Salvia ..is it involucrata Hadspen? and then take out the top to go through the winter…this will create a bushier plant too? Mine are often leggy so I’ll try you way now! Thanks so much

[@theflowerfarmer]

yes I think it's Hadspen - though it was given me labelless from a friend. enjoy! x

[@juliahelland6488]

Thanks for sharing! Nice tutorial!💯

[@theflowerfarmer]

Thanks for watching! x

[@marie9244]

Our weather is strange at the moment too. We are in spring yet Sydney yesterday 20/9 had 35 degrees Celsius. We in Melbourne had 26 degrees. That is ridiculous for spring. Our potting soil and our seed and cutting mix is full of bark so I sift them to get a good light mix. Your potting soil looks great wish I could get it here in Australia. I call the side shoot that you rip away from the main plant a heel do you call it the same? Georgie I’ve been told that honey is a good rooting assistant and it has worked for me. Thank you cheers.

[@theflowerfarmer]

this is the second good idea for rooting help after this clip - I can imagine honey would be good x

[@lyndaflower-williams6744]

Sooooooo helpful. thankyou.

[@theflowerfarmer]

you're very welcome x

[@stellasavage9981]

Hi should take my cuttings of hydrangeas into greenhouse as sitting outside but covered well also most of my cutting in greenhouse are very slow growing is this normal should I start a little gentle heat I have them cover at night with fleece and bubble wrap tks enjoy watching you ur fab

[@theflowerfarmer]

they'll be fine - no rush! xxx

[@hilshils3426]

Lovely video thank you. So you don’t add grit to your sylvagrow compost…is that because it is already very free draining?

[@theflowerfarmer]

no grit - I'm notoriously mean and if I can save a penny anywhere I will - I find watering from underneath makes a great difference x

[@Jpatmeadowbrook]

Peat is not renewable! And it damages the environment . Using peat moss is unsustainable. Thank you for promoting not using peat😍 Organic Mechanics is a substitute made in Pennsylvania and is available at whole Foods Markets and wherever you buy gardening supplies.

[@theflowerfarmer]

Thanks for sharing! x

[@BottlegardenUK]

Awful weather today, I wondered how many layers got wet through today. It feels like it could have filled a pair of welly boots in about 5 minutes.

[@theflowerfarmer]

hopefully dryer today - a lot of flowers to cut here x

[@CountryloverCountrylover]

I think your red salvia is called ‘Royal Bumble’

[@theflowerfarmer]

I think you may be right x

[@maureen3621]

Sylva means wood so you may find the odd twig in it. There is a particular toy family who live in tree houses.

[@theflowerfarmer]

yes there are occasional twigs - and I know those toys well xxx

[@anitagrays3457]

When rooting in water, I have used a slip of willow in the jar as a rooting enhancer. I'm unsure where I learned that tip.

[@theflowerfarmer]

such a good idea! x

[@soniagabriel3585]

hahaha ...i kiss my plants too and i massage them .. and i know they recognize me !

[@theflowerfarmer]

all true! x

[@pollywaffledoodah3057]

They definitely respond to your tone of voice, too! Soothing, sweet words, and watch them thrive and bloom!

[@christelleriley4013]

What is your boots called?

[@jeffreyirwin1135]

I thought you could use wilow bark for rooting?

[@theflowerfarmer]

I think you can - it's amazing how much information one can forget! but I think I knew this but had completely forgotten. Someone else here has suggested honey. I might do a trial next year but need to make willow bark tea first I think - will do more research. x

[@rondakinzey7637]

Anyone have a list of plants you can overwinter cuttings of? I would like to try. I have geraniums that I wouldn’t mind saving over.

[@theflowerfarmer]

in a sheltered spot you can overwinter a huge list - certainly your geraniums x

[@clairehewitt3381]

I don't have a glass greenhouse but I do have one of those plastic covered growing shelves, will salvia survive in this over winter?

[@theflowerfarmer]

yes very likely - xxx good luck x

[@sylviabriggs4087]

No weather is disgusting

[@theflowerfarmer]

lol - though it can appear so if one isn't in the mood xxxx

[@sylviabriggs4087]

@@theflowerfarmer oh yes there is that x