I always pot up my rooted cuttings, usually when I have about one inch of roots. I do NOT use any chemicals in the potting soil. I do use a very well draining potting soil I make myself. If you are buying potting soil stay away from those that are peat based because they break down very fast into a soggy pudding and new roots will quickly suffocate. After a couple of weeks in the soil I will use a very weak fertilizer with each watering. I like a NPK of about 3-1-2. Al

Thank you, Al. (I thought I responded to this, but don't see it here; forgive if this is a duplicate.)

I have been mostly successful potting shrub cuttings (I make my own soil as you do) and this late, usually only use 1 light dose of a very mild fertilizer in about another 2 weeks (as it's starting to get cold here near Philadelphia). My thinking in using tri-phosphate was that it took a while to break down but would provide the appropriate boost needed to roots in the spring. My only concern had been that it might burn the roots.. have I been way off-base with this thinking?

Are there any good cuttings that can be successfully planted in the ground at this time of the year (again, I'm mostly thinking of the many mums, asters and forsythias I have started)?

THANKS again!

Those would be fine in the ground here in zone 9 where we don't expect the first frost before November. With the warm soil they would establish quickly. Your climate is a mystery to me so I can't make a recommendation. I only use synthetic fertilizer in pots because soil less mixes have no nutrients otherwise. In my garden no chemical fertilizers are ever required as the soil is replenished with compost spring and fall. Compost is not appropriate in pots because it limits the good drainage required. Al