| My daughter showed me from her friend who worked in a nursery, works for me. Root one cutting cut about 1/4 inch below a leaf joint, strip off the leaves on the bottom, set in a clear glass of water in an east window, change water every 5 days or so, stem should be about 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick. I never have to use rooting powder, takes about 3 weeks. Don't worry if a few top leaves get crispy but pinch off any buds. You can put 3 to 5 cuttings in one glass of water; I like the smaller glass jars marshmallow creme comes in but anything similar will do. When there are several roots about 1/2 to 1 inch, fill a pot with soil, scoop a depression, gently set the rooted cutting in the soil deep enough so it won't topple over and gently firm soil around it. Avoid air pockets around the roots, water well, empty any excess that drains into a saucer. After it produces top growth about the same size, cut it off about 1/4 inch below a node, strip bottom leaves, stick your finger down in the soil forming a V, and just set the unrooted cutting in it, firm. It should root. Can't advise about timing, probably December to be ready to set out in after last frost in the sun. I don't harden them off but don't put in full sun the first week or so. Have done it many times now. I start them any old time, but to set out in the spring, probably start in December. You could probably stick two unrooted cuttings in potted soil like that forming a V, haven't tried it but may be faster. You can probably add a 3rd or 4th cutting that way if the pot will be larger. I usually use a one gallon pot. |