AlainK
Imperial Masterpiece
Hi eplov90, sorry for this late answer.
- Length -- typical 2/3 node cutting?
- ---> Yes, more like 3/4 though.
- Hormones -- do you use hormones? Yes, most of the time. "Chysotop vert", or organic.
- ---> Very draining, I like 75% aquarium sand 2-3 mm and 25% composted pine bark but fine gauge akadama, or any other medium that can retain moisture but not soaked is suitable actually.
- Humidity -- do you cover the cuttings or with the wetter/colder weather this time of year is that not necessary?
- ---> I read again the post you're mentioning. I wrote "cuttings made in autumn, after leaf fall, have a fair chance to succed." I think I was over-optimistic, replace "fair" with 'some", which is more "aléatoire" (that means the odds are hardly predictable)
- Anything else you do differently compare to sping/summer cuttings?
- ---> Summer cuttings (early June to late July) : about 90% success, providing the temps don't go over 30°C and the athmosphere stays humid - shouldn't be a problem in London ;^)
- ---> Spring cuttings (before, or just before budbreak) between 10 and 20% : probaly not the best time, but if you prune trees, why not try, what do you have to lose ? Last February I took about eight cuttings of 'Sango kaku' when I pruned it, put them in a small plastic pot with supermarket potting soil, and two of them rooted.
But in London, the climate is different, and it's not the same as here, in Orléans.
I guess it's not as dry and hot as it can be in Salt Lake City in summer, though it's coming closer...
