SAVE MONEY WITH PETUNIA CUTTINGS

Not many people seem to think of cuttings when it comes to summer bedding plants apart from possibly geraniums and fuchsias but here is another to add to your list PETUNIA, its reasonably easy to keep through the winter with only the same attention you would give to your Geranium plants (a sunny windowsill or a frost-free greenhouse and water as and when needed).The picture shows one of three of mine, that I have kept through the winter in the greenhouse then brought in after Christmas was over for it to put on growth for cuttings.
On March the 10th I took 50 cuttings from these three plants and put them in a modular tray giving room for 60 young plants, fifty was all I could get at the first picking over so I filled the tray out with geraniums, but today the 18th and I have a host of almost ready shoots and by the 21st I now have enough for another full tray.
Last year these plants were bought for 50 pence each so the fifty that are set out for rooting could be worth £25 at last years prices and the sixty I have now done could be worth £30 and things are looking good for another tray in about another 10 days, so you can see the saving, and if I have too many then I can sell or swap them and that helps to pay for more plants.Taking cuttings is very easy and success is largely dependant on experience so I’ll talk you through my method.Other People have there own method but this works for me.Select the cuttings about 2 inch long and cut just above the next Leaf Joint below the one you want. Trim the cutting just below the leaf joint you have chosen with a slight angle. Strip of the leaves from the base to the last two below the growing point, if these are large leaves then with a sharp knife or scissors cut these in half. This is to reduce transpiration.I always use a pencil or dibber to make a hole first. Insert your cutting and use the pencil/dibber around the cutting to at least the depth you did for your cutting ensuring close contact between cutting and compost.I personally don’t use rooting compound on this type of cutting. It roots easily as it is just cover and keep warm on a sunny windowsill. For pictorial step by step guide see my Herbaceous Cuttings post. Give it a try and good luck.

For you Chris this is what I meant by a modular tray these in turn fit into a regular tray for stability when moving them around. Sorry it took so long to post this but I have been shoveling horse poo on the allotment in readiness for planting out and haven't been keeping an eye on this end of things try putting a plastic bag over your pot containing your cutting for the first week or so till it can stand alone, Sorry for my tardiness in replying.

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