Will my privet cuttings make it?

mdori003

Hi all,

I've tried to propagate some privet cuttings as a little project to replace a bit of dead hedge. I used milk containers gave the cuttings about 6-8 weeks in a closed environment.

I'm left with the following, I reckon there are maybe 5 thriving cuttings, 5 maybes and 3 no hopers.

Ive been giving them limited exposure to direct sunlight (gradually increasing) and loads of water. I was wondering if that sounded like a reasonable plan, and what my chances were of a few staying alive? Also how long before they would need repotted (probably wouldn't be planting until next spring ideally.

Total novice to feel free to tell me what I've done wrong! All comments welcome.

Martin_the_Unjust

I think privet is pretty bomb proof but you may want to think about giving them a good feed of a general fertiliser regularly.

Apodemus

Looking pretty healthy, so I’d stick with the current regime!  ...although I have the opposite problem and wish I could get rid of the self-seeded privet that is growing up through all my non-privet hedges.

mdori003

Cheers, I'll look into fertiliser.
Reckon the container sizes will do for a year? (There's obviously a little bit of a mix of sizes in the picture)

Martin_the_Unjust

General rule of thumb, 'pot on when the plant is twice as high as the pot'

twopenny

Just for the future the best time to take cuttings is from Sept - Nov. That will get best results and you don't have to fiddle with sunlight and watering.

They look decent though. Good job there as you were dealing with the summer.

mdori003

The update that no one asked for; privet thriving!

Martin_the_Unjust said:

General rule of thumb, 'pot on when the plant is twice as high as the pot'

I'm guessing at some point I'll have to plant these somewhere temporarily (I want them to get to at least a metre (ideally a fair bit more) before I rip out the old section of hedge?

twopenny said:

Just for the future the best time to take cuttings is from Sept - Nov. That will get best results and you don't have to fiddle with sunlight and watering.

They look decent though. Good job there as you were dealing with the summer.

I'm going to take some more cuttings shortly - I'm guessing it's the same techniques for growing them? (plastic milk containers worked very well)

Thanks again!

Davesnave

Put them around the edge of the container next time; extra air aids rooting. Also,you could easily get 3 or 4 in a milk container or other pot that size. Using a huge pot to a small cutting is not only wasteful, it's counter productive, as the compost may go sour with so few roots (and hence biological activity) in it.

Many outdoor cuttings done now in a sheltered place should root by late spring 2021, effectively managing themselves.

mdori003

Davesnave said:

Put them around the edge of the container next time; extra air aids rooting. Also,you could easily get 3 or 4 in a milk container or other pot that size. Using a huge pot to a small cutting is not only wasteful, it's counter productive, as the compost may go sour with so few roots (and hence biological activity) in it.

Many outdoor cuttings done now in a sheltered place should root by late spring 2021, effectively managing themselves.

Thanks- yes sorry initially there were 3 cuttings per milk carton and I moved the ones that took into their own pots after 2/3 months.

I had also been using a closed environment (i.e cutting the milk container in half then taping tightly closed again) is that not really necessary? I don't really need much more in any case it's more experimentation at this point as I want to try the fresh compost bin contents out! I also used a rooting hormone last time but might do half without to see how much it is needed.

Katiehound

I find that if I put several evergreen cuttings round/near the edge of a clay pot in the autumn several will root- I don't bother with rooting hormone. Another thing that sometimes seems to aid growth- don't ask me why!- is a small plant already thriving- even a weed! Put the pots in a sheltered spot and ... wait.
Privet? hate the stuff!!!

I'm thinking that once they get to a reasonable size you could put them in a trench for the winter? That's how I've bought plants in the past from garden centres in spring. Just thinking it would free up pot space.

twopenny

I'm really impressed by the attention you're giving them. Working though they look healthy.

I used to take hardwood cuttings and just stick them in a semi shaded bed somewhere during the autumn and 9 out of 10 would root with not feed or rooting powder. Perhaps try both methods and see what you think. It's all a learning curve and knowledge is seldom wasted