Propagating Cuttings in Winter

[SuperHans]

Disclaimer: I’m a bonsai noob.

I’m in Virginia and we just had a big snowstorm. My parents have a beautiful Japanese Magnolia that had a bunch of big limbs break off. I’ve wanted to take cuttings from it, so figured I might as well try to make this work now.

I’ve taken a bunch of cuttings. I’m tempted to get pseudo-experimental with trying get these cuttings to root... And I’d like some advice.

I’ve already put 7 cuttings in rooting hormone powder, then into rooting medium (60-20-20, perlite-peat moss-potting soil). See pic.

I’m considering just keeping others in a combo of water and rooting hormone powder... just to see how that works.

Should I keep the cuttings outside in the winter weather or bring them inside? Half inside, half outside? I could keep them in the garage perhaps?

I would think being in the winter dormancy state might inhibit root growth. And I just don’t know about them getting thrown off on the seasons.

Any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Shibui]

Dormant cuttings can survive through most of winter. Callus and root growth is slow but still happens.
Best rooting occurs when the soil is slightly warmer than the tops of the cuttings. Indoors the opposite usually happens and leaves are likely to open before roots form so any you put indoors should have a cover to maintain humidity as dehydration of the stems will cause death in drier air.

Without more specific advice I would try a range of options as you have proposed to see if one is more successful.
I have very different weather conditions so hope someone closer to you can give more definite help.

 

[Ohmy222]

I don't know how these will fare but I imagine those are flower buds and, if so, you may want to pluck them off. The plant will expend a lot of energy with them blooming and normally post-bloom will expend energy trying to generate seeds. I would at least do that with half of them.

 

[SuperHans]

Dormant cuttings can survive through most of winter. Callus and root growth is slow but still happens.
Best rooting occurs when the soil is slightly warmer than the tops of the cuttings. Indoors the opposite usually happens and leaves are likely to open before roots form so any you put indoors should have a cover to maintain humidity as dehydration of the stems will cause death in drier air.

Without more specific advice I would try a range of options as you have proposed to see if one is more successful.
I have very different weather conditions so hope someone closer to you can give more definite help.

Thanks for the reply. What kind of cover? I’d be concerned about the cuttings not getting enough sunlight or oxygen.

 

[SuperHans]

I don't know how these will fare but I imagine those are flower buds and, if so, you may want to pluck them off. The plant will expend a lot of energy with them blooming and normally post-bloom will expend energy trying to generate seeds. I would at least do that with half of them.

Thanks for the reply. That makes sense. However, would that throw off the cuttings in terms of their phases and seasons? Or would it just cause them to skip flowering this season, still be in sync with the seasons, and just flower next year?

 

[Housguy]

Clear plastic bag for your cover to create that humid factor. I do that all the time and I get a lot of cuttings to root, even finger size cuttings.

 

[Ohmy222]

Thanks for the reply. That makes sense. However, would that throw off the cuttings in terms of their phases and seasons? Or would it just cause them to skip flowering this season, still be in sync with the seasons, and just flower next year?

I don't think it would but that is why I suggested you could just try half of them.

 

[Shibui]

Thanks for the reply. What kind of cover? I’d be concerned about the cuttings not getting enough sunlight or oxygen.

Clear plastic bag over the pot is the simplest.
Clear plastic storage crate is another, Sit the pots on bricks or similar so they don't sit in water in the bottom of the box.
Oxygen is not the problem but closed conditions can promote fungal growth so keep watch and allow fresh air occasionally.

 

[Carol 83]

I use cut off 1 liter soda bottles, but that may not be big enough for your pots.