Re: propagating cistus
barbara sargent wrote:
>
> I have a small cutting of a cistus (don't know which one) with a small
> light pink flower. I started with my often successful
> stick-it-in-a-glass-of-water method but perhaps it needs something
> different.
>
> How do I go about propagating it and is now the best time? They're in
> flower and this cutting has lots of buds on it. Should I remove them?
>
> Thanks. I'm developing a great fondness for cistus.
>
Barbara
By an odd coincidence I have myself just successfully propagated a
small-flowered pink Cistus. As it is in my own garden I should know the
name, but have alas forgotten it.
Apart from things like Impatiens which are never out of bloom, flowering
time is reckoned the worst to propagate anything and many shrubs in
particular are very uncooperative. (Partly, no doubt because almost all
resources are being channelled into the flower/seed effort and partly I
suspect because when new vegetative growth is not taking place there is
little or no production of the plant's natural rooting substances.)
If this is the only time you can get a cutting, then I should certainly
remove the flower buds and also use a commercial rooting aid, but if you
can wait until flowering is finished and then get more cuttings the
best sort seem to be sturdy new side growths which form at that time.
Take these when no more than 2-3" long and put them in the cutting mix
(sand, sand/peat or even plain natural sawdust such as I favour) without
further trimming beyond the removal of surplus leaves. If you can, aim
to put at least three cuttings in one container. They seem to root
better in company. (This applies to any species, not just Cistus). These
cuttings are pretty lush and you will almost certainly need to cover
them at first with some sort of plastic "tent " to avoid wilting.
My cuttings I made from the new post-flowering growth on my plant rooted
after about a month and are now beginning to grow new shoots..
Regarding rooting in water, this is certainly an easy way and well worth
trying, but is I find less successful with woody plants than with
fleshy-stemed things like Impatiens and Coleus. With shrubs such as
Fuchsias it is most likely to succeed on very lush young shoots which
have not yet begun to harden even a little bit.
Moira
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
