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Re: Spirea-now what?

Sally Perkins wrote:
> 
>  I have 4 rooted cuttings of Spirea bullata, a cute little shrublet with
> thick dark green curly leaves and small rosy spirea-like flower clusters
> that blooms sporatically throughout the summer.   It rooted easily in about
> 4 weeks in sand and perlite covered  with a clear plastic lid and kept in
> the shade. Now that it rooted I potted them up individually in standard
> Sunshine mix. Should I bring them in under artificial lights to get more
> growth or just leave them outside and mulch them heavily under salt hay to
> get them through the winter? Any suggestions welcomed.
> It is deciduous and has not started to turn nor have they been exposed to
> frost yet.
> 
> Sally Perkins, zone 5b/6a Salem, NH
We did about 150 rooted cuttings last year of Spirea Magic Carpet, and
about 50 of Spirea Shirobana.
Pot them into gallon containers now and let them get rooted in before
the frost comes.  Then put them in a cold frame in your zone.  Don't
fool with Ma Nature by giving supplemental lights, or you'll create more
problems than you're ready to deal with.  When all the leaves have
fallen and they are dormant, cut the branches back to get a good round
crown in the spring.  You can also do this just before bud break.  When
it begins to warm in the spring, harden them off.  Tough little
beggars.  You shouldn't have any problems.  We didn't lose a single one.
Oh, we potted in Sunshine #1, and fertilized with 10-20-10 IN THE
SPRING.  Mix some kelp meal into the mix, about a quart for a 3.8 cu ft
bale.  We had some micronutrient defieciencies (sp) because Sunshine Mix
doesn't have them in it.  Spirea didn't show it, but I saw it in some
other things.

The Greenhouse Nursery
81 S. Bagley Creek Road & Hwy 101
Port Angeles, WA  98362
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