Re: exposure for cuttings
gardenchat@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: exposure for cuttings
  • From: j* s* <i*@q.com>
  • Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:46:24 -0700
I dunno. I've always rooted cuttings in shade, but I've thought it was to reduce transpiration, not heat. But then, I've never tried to root them in a closed environment, believing good air circulation was a necessary component.
The second nursery I worked for was a SoCal wholesale houseplant grower. He had a large greenhouse dedicated to rooting cuttings. The greenhouse, like most SoCal greenhouses then, was sprayed with whitewash to keep the direct sun out and, when the winter rains came, to let the winter sun in. So it was shady most of the time. It had an exhaust fan to move the air. And it had a high-humidity irrigation system--a Mexican named Frank [probably Francisco to his wife and friends]--who, in peak summer, constantly moved through the area dragging a hose with a fog nozzle.
The rooting success rate was near 100 percent, so I've always tried to emulate his practices. 


On Jun 30, 2010, at 6:53 AM, Kitty wrote:
Ever since someone on this list (I think it was Cathy) said they started their cuttings ina clear storage box, I've been doing the same with mostly good success. I placed the box between the west side of the house and a cherry tree so it got filtered sunlight, maybe a direct hit for a short while.
Last year the tree died and I took it down. It seems to me that w/ out the tree's protection the cuttings would heat up too much if I put the box in the same place with a western exposure - too much direct sun. So I put them on my front porch, eastern exposure but, for the most part filtered by a dogwood tree. I don't think this looks to be enough sunlight.
So just how much light do cuttings in a box need? These are of shrubs - Viburnum, Lilac, Magnolia. Would the north side be better? Any suggestions? 

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
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Inland Jim
Willamette Valley

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