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| Some of the Supplies I Use |
Potted up Japanese Boxwoods
from my own cuttings
from my own cuttings
| I don't sell propagation supplies on this site. Stocking the variety of supplies needed is too expensive. I have a list of links to suppliers on the links page. I like growing plants, not selling products. |
When I first started propagating plants, it was kind of a hit and miss deal. I really did not know what I
needed as far as supplies. My first attempts at rooting plants were done with regular potting soil
and no rooting hormones. I managed to get a few plants to root, but for the most part my efforts
were not very successful. After a little bit (actually a lot) of researching the Internet I found
techniques that gave me a reasonable measure of success. The LINKS page has some good sites
for resources and supplies. I also found you can spend a ton of money for stuff you just don't really
need. So, below are things that I have found to be necessary when rooting your cuttings.
needed as far as supplies. My first attempts at rooting plants were done with regular potting soil
and no rooting hormones. I managed to get a few plants to root, but for the most part my efforts
were not very successful. After a little bit (actually a lot) of researching the Internet I found
techniques that gave me a reasonable measure of success. The LINKS page has some good sites
for resources and supplies. I also found you can spend a ton of money for stuff you just don't really
need. So, below are things that I have found to be necessary when rooting your cuttings.
Seed Trays. Found at most garden supply centers
for about $1 each. I drill some 1/4 inch holes in the
bottom for drainage. You can also use plastic
containers of just about any configuration, just make
sure they have drainage holes. Trust me, seed
trays don't make seeds germinate at any different
rate than plastic shoe boxes.
for about $1 each. I drill some 1/4 inch holes in the
bottom for drainage. You can also use plastic
containers of just about any configuration, just make
sure they have drainage holes. Trust me, seed
trays don't make seeds germinate at any different
rate than plastic shoe boxes.
Six packs, 2 1/2 inch, 4 inch pots make suitable
containers for cuttings. If I'm starting seeds I use
these pots until the seedling gets a good root
system, then transfer to the final size. Seedlings
can die very easily and making liners first takes
less room in my cold frame. They are hard to
see in this photo but the seedlings are two
month old Oriental Thuja.
containers for cuttings. If I'm starting seeds I use
these pots until the seedling gets a good root
system, then transfer to the final size. Seedlings
can die very easily and making liners first takes
less room in my cold frame. They are hard to
see in this photo but the seedlings are two
month old Oriental Thuja.
#1, #2 and #5 black plastic pots are common here on
the west coast. In this picture I've got some Sweet
Gum in #5 pots. They will finish faster by potting
them directly into #5's rather than going from 4 inch
to six inch then on to #1's and so on. Try to
transplant the seedlings or cuttings into the finished
or saleable size.
the west coast. In this picture I've got some Sweet
Gum in #5 pots. They will finish faster by potting
them directly into #5's rather than going from 4 inch
to six inch then on to #1's and so on. Try to
transplant the seedlings or cuttings into the finished
or saleable size.
Labels. 1000 of them will run about $35 on-line. Use a
#2 pencil to write on them...Pens will not last. These
things have really gone up in price this past year. They
are required by law on every plant you sell. They
should have at a minimum the botanical name of the
plant as well common name.
#2 pencil to write on them...Pens will not last. These
things have really gone up in price this past year. They
are required by law on every plant you sell. They
should have at a minimum the botanical name of the
plant as well common name.
Rooting Hormone. I buy mine on-line. I prefer to use what
the professionals use like Hormodin. The #2 is .3% active
ingredient and the #3 is .8%. Hormodin #2 and #3 are
the two that I use most often. This stuff may look a little
expensive at $30 a can, but you can literally dip thousands
of cuttings from each. I also have used Dip N Grow. This
is a liquid that you can use to mix different strengths. The
success rate for your efforts will be greatly improved.
Commercial nurseries live by this chemical. As with all
chemicals, follow the directions and warnings on the label.
the professionals use like Hormodin. The #2 is .3% active
ingredient and the #3 is .8%. Hormodin #2 and #3 are
the two that I use most often. This stuff may look a little
expensive at $30 a can, but you can literally dip thousands
of cuttings from each. I also have used Dip N Grow. This
is a liquid that you can use to mix different strengths. The
success rate for your efforts will be greatly improved.
Commercial nurseries live by this chemical. As with all
chemicals, follow the directions and warnings on the label.
A cold frame or greenhouse isn't necessary, but I sure
like mine. This one is built from 2x4's , 4x4's and
covered with 6 mil plastic. It cost me about $300 and a
couple of weekends. Zig zag some rope or cord over the
plastic to help reduce wind damage.
If you live in a warm climate, you may not need a
greenhouse. A small one like this gets hot inside very
fast and will need ventilation. By the time summer rolls
around, I have cut vents in the plastic and will eventually
take the plastic off all together. In some climates shade
cloth can replace the plastic.
Click here to go to my hoop house page.
like mine. This one is built from 2x4's , 4x4's and
covered with 6 mil plastic. It cost me about $300 and a
couple of weekends. Zig zag some rope or cord over the
plastic to help reduce wind damage.
If you live in a warm climate, you may not need a
greenhouse. A small one like this gets hot inside very
fast and will need ventilation. By the time summer rolls
around, I have cut vents in the plastic and will eventually
take the plastic off all together. In some climates shade
cloth can replace the plastic.
Click here to go to my hoop house page.
Perlite, sand, or peat. These can be mixed as a rooting
medium. Sand and perlite can be used alone for rooting
cuttings, or you can mix with three parts sand, perlite and
one part peat. Seeds use 3 parts loam or top soil, one part
sand or perlite and one part peat. A good mixing tub can be
a wheelbarrow or what I use is a $5 cement mixing tub. A
garden trowel makes quick work of stirring. For mixing potting
soil I use a portable electric cement mixer. It holds a couple
of cubic feet and works great and really saves the back as I
get older.
medium. Sand and perlite can be used alone for rooting
cuttings, or you can mix with three parts sand, perlite and
one part peat. Seeds use 3 parts loam or top soil, one part
sand or perlite and one part peat. A good mixing tub can be
a wheelbarrow or what I use is a $5 cement mixing tub. A
garden trowel makes quick work of stirring. For mixing potting
soil I use a portable electric cement mixer. It holds a couple
of cubic feet and works great and really saves the back as I
get older.
It's not an absolute requirement, but a shade structure can
be built from a "portable garage", lumber or anything else
that can support the cloth and withstand some wind. The
rope over the top helps keep the wind from lift and pulling
your shade cloth.
be built from a "portable garage", lumber or anything else
that can support the cloth and withstand some wind. The
rope over the top helps keep the wind from lift and pulling
your shade cloth.
Rooted English Boxwood cuttings ready to be potted up. These were
under intermittent mist for about 9 weeks. I could have pulled them
from the sand bed a little sooner, but I like a good root system,
especially in the fall.
These Boxwoods rooted much quicker than any I've rooted since. For
these particular cuttings, everything came together at once. I have
had 200 Boxwoods under mist for over 8 months and they are just now
showing roots.
under intermittent mist for about 9 weeks. I could have pulled them
from the sand bed a little sooner, but I like a good root system,
especially in the fall.
These Boxwoods rooted much quicker than any I've rooted since. For
these particular cuttings, everything came together at once. I have
had 200 Boxwoods under mist for over 8 months and they are just now
showing roots.
It's always good to take along
a couple of friends when you
are working in your nursery.
a couple of friends when you
are working in your nursery.
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| Bridge Street Nursery Half way between Walterville and Leaburg. Springfield, Oregon |