Yes, works great for us. We ended up doing over 1,000 cuttings through 2023 and into the winter. We will give an update in a few weeks to show how well we did. Some will still be rooting well into spring but so far we looking to be having a 70-80% success rate.
Hi, No need to do anything different. Hardwood cuttings are completely dormant once Fall arrives. The cuttings will callous over once they sit in the totes for several weeks. They likely wont root until the temperatures come back up in the spring. The totes keep the snow off and the moisture in. One warning, the totes can get pretty brittle in the cold. Just let them be until Spring has arrived.
This past Winter this is my first year growing from hard wood cuttings, and also using the tote method you guys are using here in this video. Its now early Spring, and the good news is I can see green buds on many of many cutting. My question now is what do I do next? Once it warms up (zone 5 here), do you guys just leave the cuttings in the totes? Or do you move them to some type of propagation bed to continue to let them grow out more? Just not sure if I can just move these budded up cuttings directly to a pot or give them more time.
Sounds like you are doing great! Buds are a good sign. No rush to move them, let them grow some really good roots before moving. There really isn’t a rush but you should pot them up early enough so they are growing strong 6 months before winter hits. When you move them ease them out of the totes into the natural environment. The totes are very humid but the natural air is not. We do this by leaving the lids off 20% and then 50% for a couple of weeks. Be careful if it rains as you don’t have drainage holes in the bottom. Then as you mentioned transplant into beds or we go right to the pots we will sell them in. We keep them in the shade and mist 1-2 times per day. Fertilize with slow release fertilizer (on our website) when you pot them up. Once transplanted into pots it’s up to you as to how long and how big you want to grow them. Then time to sell! Let us know how you do! Larry
I’m glad I found you, very helpful. How do you control the heat in the summer? Just by placing the totes in a shaded area. I think you said you leave them in the totes for 6 to 10 months. I’m in zone 6 in MI, what zone are you in? I’ve been hesitant to put our stock in 3 - 5 gallon pots through the winter outside, but it sounds like that’s what you do.
Hi, Thanks for watching. The totes are fine if kept in the shade during the summer. Again having the holes in the sides provides a little air flow that really helps yet the plants are still in a nice humid environment. We find it best to keep plants in the totes until the develop really good roots. The 7A/6B line runs through our property but it is very rare for us to be under 0 degrees. We do keep everything outside. All the woody plants in 1,3 & 5 gallon containers are outside all year and not covered. If the plant is hardy in your zone, you should be OK. That said last year we did loose some Skip Laurels when we had a few days down near 0 degrees. That is a rare occurrence for us. Glad you found us, lots more to come!
Thanks for watching. We typically grow these out for 2-3 years and in our market they get into the $25-30.00 price range. In smaller #1 size pots at 1-2 years they can sell for $10-15.00 depending on your market. 🌲🌲🌲
Thanks, Good question. For these hardwood cuttings the goal is to get them rooted and in pots by next fall at the latest. So, 6-10 months. We have found it is best not to move them until they have really strong roots. Also best to ease them out of their perfect and humid environment. About 2 weeks before we transplant them to pots we will partially open the tops.
So glad I found your RUclips presence & subscribed. Zone 4 here in Northern NY. The totes will freeze hard, possibly 20 degrees below zero. Would they be better in our off season unheated greenhouse? We usually start it up in late Feb or March for annual production. Or not to worry, these came from established plants that grew here. Thank you.
Thanks for the great question. The rule is, if the plant is hardy in your zone you will be fine. The wind is more damaging to plants then even bitter cold so the totes will protect against the wind. That said inside an unheated greenhouse is a good choice. Thanks for watching, much more to come 🌲🌲🌲
Thanks for the question. When dividing we hold some back for the future, then divided for sale in #1 size pots. The ones we hold back can go into #3 or even #5 pots so they have lots of room to grow out and be divided again. We find customers mostly want plants in a #1 container.
Yes, we have not done them but you can root from hardwood or softwood cuttings. What is required is patience, they can take months to root. We have had Rhododendrons take up to a year. 🌲🌲🌲
That is a really excellent question. We have not propagated any fir, pine, or spruce trees from cuttings but it is something that we have read is possible. We do propagate evergreens in the Cedar family such as all the Arborvitaes, where we propagate both soft and hardwood cuttings. Have to try some spruces and see how it goes. Thanks! Let us know if you try!
This really works!
Yes, works great for us. We ended up doing over 1,000 cuttings through 2023 and into the winter. We will give an update in a few weeks to show how well we did. Some will still be rooting well into spring but so far we looking to be having a 70-80% success rate.
Thank you for sharing this propagation technique. I will this technique on the lilac in my yard.
Lilacs root very well as hardwood cuttings! You should have good success! Thanks for watching!
Fascinating! What would you do differently if you were say on the east coast of Canada and had freezing temps and often snow December through March?
Hi, No need to do anything different. Hardwood cuttings are completely dormant once Fall arrives. The cuttings will callous over once they sit in the totes for several weeks. They likely wont root until the temperatures come back up in the spring. The totes keep the snow off and the moisture in. One warning, the totes can get pretty brittle in the cold. Just let them be until Spring has arrived.
@@Growing-Our-Retirement thanks so much! Subscribed.
Glad you joined. Lots more videos to come. 🌲🌲🌲
This past Winter this is my first year growing from hard wood cuttings, and also using the tote method you guys are using here in this video. Its now early Spring, and the good news is I can see green buds on many of many cutting. My question now is what do I do next? Once it warms up (zone 5 here), do you guys just leave the cuttings in the totes? Or do you move them to some type of propagation bed to continue to let them grow out more? Just not sure if I can just move these budded up cuttings directly to a pot or give them more time.
Sounds like you are doing great! Buds are a good sign. No rush to move them, let them grow some really good roots before moving. There really isn’t a rush but you should pot them up early enough so they are growing strong 6 months before winter hits.
When you move them ease them out of the totes into the natural environment. The totes are very humid but the natural air is not. We do this by leaving the lids off 20% and then 50% for a couple of weeks. Be careful if it rains as you don’t have drainage holes in the bottom.
Then as you mentioned transplant into beds or we go right to the pots we will sell them in. We keep them in the shade and mist 1-2 times per day. Fertilize with slow release fertilizer (on our website) when you pot them up.
Once transplanted into pots it’s up to you as to how long and how big you want to grow them. Then time to sell! Let us know how you do! Larry
So there are no holes in the bottom of the tote? Appreciate you 2 sharing this info as I'm trying.
Thanks for watching! Yes, no holes in the bottoms. You must keep the covers on and watch that they stay moist.
I’m glad I found you, very helpful. How do you control the heat in the summer? Just by placing the totes in a shaded area. I think you said you leave them in the totes for 6 to 10 months. I’m in zone 6 in MI, what zone are you in? I’ve been hesitant to put our stock in 3 - 5 gallon pots through the winter outside, but it sounds like that’s what you do.
Hi, Thanks for watching. The totes are fine if kept in the shade during the summer. Again having the holes in the sides provides a little air flow that really helps yet the plants are still in a nice humid environment. We find it best to keep plants in the totes until the develop really good roots. The 7A/6B line runs through our property but it is very rare for us to be under 0 degrees. We do keep everything outside. All the woody plants in 1,3 & 5 gallon containers are outside all year and not covered. If the plant is hardy in your zone, you should be OK. That said last year we did loose some Skip Laurels when we had a few days down near 0 degrees. That is a rare occurrence for us. Glad you found us, lots more to come!
Love to hear how much you would sell those for and how long it’ll take
Wasnt patient enough 🤦♂️
Thanks for watching. We typically grow these out for 2-3 years and in our market they get into the $25-30.00 price range. In smaller #1 size pots at 1-2 years they can sell for $10-15.00 depending on your market. 🌲🌲🌲
Great presentation. How long will you let the lid on the tote?
Thanks, Good question. For these hardwood cuttings the goal is to get them rooted and in pots by next fall at the latest. So, 6-10 months. We have found it is best not to move them until they have really strong roots.
Also best to ease them out of their perfect and humid environment. About 2 weeks before we transplant them to pots we will partially open the tops.
So glad I found your RUclips presence & subscribed. Zone 4 here in Northern NY. The totes will freeze hard, possibly 20 degrees below zero. Would they be better in our off season unheated greenhouse? We usually start it up in late Feb or March for annual production. Or not to worry, these came from established plants that grew here. Thank you.
Thanks for the great question. The rule is, if the plant is hardy in your zone you will be fine. The wind is more damaging to plants then even bitter cold so the totes will protect against the wind.
That said inside an unheated greenhouse is a good choice. Thanks for watching, much more to come 🌲🌲🌲
What size parts would you recommend for when you divide your hostess?
Thanks for the question. When dividing we hold some back for the future, then divided for sale in #1 size pots. The ones we hold back can go into #3 or even #5 pots so they have lots of room to grow out and be divided again.
We find customers mostly want plants in a #1 container.
@ thanks for answering my question. I really appreciate it.
Absolutely! Thanks for watching
Can you propagate oak trees?
Yes, we have not done them but you can root from hardwood or softwood cuttings. What is required is patience, they can take months to root. We have had Rhododendrons take up to a year. 🌲🌲🌲
Would Vermiculite and Peat Moss be good if you didn't have Perlite on hand?
Yes, vermiculite is great and sometimes easier to source than perlite. Good luck propagating!
Is it possible to grow evergreen trees from cuttings? Like, fir, or cedar?
That is a really excellent question. We have not propagated any fir, pine, or spruce trees from cuttings but it is something that we have read is possible. We do propagate evergreens in the Cedar family such as all the Arborvitaes, where we propagate both soft and hardwood cuttings. Have to try some spruces and see how it goes. Thanks! Let us know if you try!