Tender plants – lantana and petunia, for example – come from brighter, hotter countries than Britain and have thrived in the warmth and light of this summer. Now is the time to start thinking about keeping them for next year to save buying more in spring. The plants are large now and take up much space over winter even if you have a heated greenhouse or conservatory (and can afford the heating).
Saving space by taking cuttings in late summer and early autumn is an easy way to keep a stock. Little, space-saving rooted cuttings can be kept going over winter on a window sill or other bright, frost-free place. They can be repotted in spring and more cuttings taken if needed.
Shorts
Choose firm, pest-free, non-flowering shoots, about 5-10cm long, severed at a leaf joint (inset), and all leaves on the lower half removed. Use a sharp knife or Stanley blade. Root these in sandy potting media in small pots or trays in an unheated propagator, in a cold frame or just cover the trays with a plastic bag and leave in a greenhouse or on a window sill. Insert the cuttings up to the lower leaves with a dibber and water well to settle. Rooting powders are unnecessary and no fungicides are recommended for cuttings nowadays. Expect rooting in about three weeks, when the plants can be uncovered in stages to acclimate them to less humidity.
