Landscaping Tips - Cuttings Roots

Landscaping Tips - Cuttings Roots.

Before planting you must be sure you’ve cut the lower leaves of the plant.

Considering that the little wings on the stem are inclined to rot, it is very important to pull them off. After that, you must use some lime on the stem ends and insert the root in a pot filled with sand or a mixture of peat moss and sand.

When the roots are about an inch-long, they can be moved in 2 ½ - inch pots filled with ¾ sandy loam and ¼ leaf mold or peat moss.

Once you’ve finished planting it you must also keep it away from direct sunlight. It is recommended that you keep it indoors.

You should shift to 3 ½ - or 4-inch pots and fill them with the same potting mixture but with bone metal when the separated cuttings have their own root system. After that, you must feed them using a phosphorous fertilizer (5-10-5 or 4-15-8).

You must care for them, provide sunny windows and turn the pots from time to time. You should not over-water them and wait for the soil to dry out before repeating the procedure. It’s strictly prohibited to keep the pots in water.

During the day they must be kept under temperatures of 60-70 degrees F and during night 50-60 degrees F. But as you may know, this is not possible in a home.

Your original plants can last perfectly through the winter if you keep them indoors. All you have to do is cut back 6 or 8 inches from the top and put the pots in a sunny house. It is very important for you to know that during winter you must grow old plants at 50 degrees F.

Cool cellars can perfectly host plants if you remember to keep them in little light and cool temperature. If not, the growth will be lanky and the plant won’t be that strong.

If your plant has grown in strong light, when the winter is over you must start rooting using the above mentioned method.

Every once in a while, when the weather permits, it is recommendable for you to take care of the old plants by cutting them back and re pot them in fresh soil before setting them outdoors.

This is probably the best method a gardener can use because it provides big specimens.

Very often people ask if during fall you can store and hang your plants upside down in your basement.

A few years ago in cellars was no central heating and when the floors were dirty this but now, down there is very warm, well insulated and dry.

This is perfect for gardeners because in only a few months the dry and almost dead plants will turn into some beautiful flowers. The plant proves to be very tough if it can be wintered without soil.

Tuberous Begonias

If stored properly during winter months, the tubers can last perfectly year after year. During fall, especially in October, in some warm regions, the plant will turn yellow but won’t frost.

This time of year, you must withhold water. After turning yellow you should use a spading fork and lift plants very carefully.

The next step is to spread the tubers in the sun at least for a few hours to dry. Once the drying period is over, you must cut off the tops.

Be very careful, if a portion of stem remains, you must not break it off. Let it dry and remove it afterwards.

In the end, you must arrange tubers in shallow boxes, shake off the soil and cover them with dry sand or peat moss. The perfect temperature for the storage is between 45 and 50 degrees F.

There are some persons that prefer to use paper bags and clean tubers. The effect is also very good.

Another option is for you to leave the tubers in their pots. You must turn containers on sides and put them in the basement where the temperatures don’t exceed 60 degrees F.

If down there is too warm, the bulbs will shrivel and they won’t ever become beautiful plants for rooms with filtered sunlight.