These are the continuing voyages of the starship ceanothus. I am trying manfully to propagate this shrub. Previous attempts have failed. In this latest attempt in September, I set up three batches of cuttings.
- Heated bench, in Ziploc bags
- Unheated bench, in Ziploc bags
- Cold frame, no pampering
In the last update, I admitted defeat on the heated bench batch, they went to the great propagator in the sky. The unheated bench batch, though, are still with us, but barely.
There are two pots in the batch, one in a gritty mix one in a compost based mix. As in the heated bench batch, the compost based pot is dying off faster than the the gritty pot, but both are dying off.
The compost pot, on the right, is beyond salvation so I’ve binned that. The gritty pot still has some greenery so I have removed the mouldy and rotting stems and some leaves that were looking iffy. I’ve also discarded the bags that the pots were in, I don’t think the ceanothus appreciate being enclosed. I do not hold out much hope for this batch, we’ll see.
Much more positively, the cold-frame batch still look extremely perky. I’ve not done a thing to them other than poke them in the gritty compost mix and leave them to it.
They’re in a terracotta pot and have been somewhat sheltered, out of the wind, but otherwise exposed to outside conditions in the cold frame. I don’t yet see any signs of rooting, but bearing in mind previous failures well before that stage, I remain optimistic for this batch.
So, a game of two halves. I’ll be back with another update in the New Year.
I’ve never had any success with Ceonothus cuttings so I wish you luck. I have the same problem with Myrtle, but I’ll keep trying; have you tried just putting the stems in water for a prolonged period?
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No, haven’t tried that yet. I see you have read the latest update, the cold frame batch are still looking good. A little snowy at the moment…
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But do you think there is a chance they will root? I tend to throw them away if they haven’t made roots in 6 weeks, I’ve been much more patient with the Myrtle this time (cuttings were taken in autumn) but I’m not hopeful.
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They allegedly prefer cool conditions. I subsequently found out that in the nursery trade the usually leave outside in a low tunnel. Certainly 5 months later they look very healthy, nice and green. If they haven’t rooted by the time spring is done i shall bin them. Maybe. I am hopeful.
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As I read these accounts of success and failure, I wonder if I’m better off sticking with planting seeds and buying plants at the nursery. I’ve just thrown away two attempts at starting Melianthus cuttings. One dried out when I opened the ziplock bag to let in some air – it turned brown and wilted. With the second one, I left the ziplock bag closed and a big clump of mould developed quite suddenly. Obviously not a sterile enough environment. Sigh.
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It can be a bit disheartening,that’s for sure. I was thinking something similar myself just this morning in fact. But then I snapped out of it. Every failure is a learning opportunity!
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I always treat my cuttings to tough love: they either love it or they don’t! Seems ceanothus love it!
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Yes! Doesn’t work for many, but for those it does, it works well. Horses for courses i guess.
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It explains why I have a limited range of plants that I’ll take cuttings from…
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