Phlox Propagation With Cuttings

A few weeks ago, Daisy, I think it was, asked about taking Phlox cuttings as one of the methods of propagation. I recall that I had written something, but felt in the end that I had not made myself very clear.
Perhaps with this posting along with fotos it will be clearer.

You can take cuttings either in the early spring or late summer. The ones that I have selected to demonstrate this technique are, of course, late summer stems, as it is august.

1) Select a blooming stem with 3-5 sets of leaves.

2) Remove the flower neatly.

3) Remove all the leaves except for the top one (leaving one set is best)or two sets with a very sharp knife so that your cuts will be clean and precise. The less sets that you leave, the less moisture will be lost.

4) Say that you now have a stem with a set of leaves at the top and three denuded 'nodes' where leaves have been removed.
Go to the node above the bottom one and make a clean cut in one move just below the node. *The top of the plant cutting is to the right.

It should look like this when you have finished:

5) Take a small pot and fill it with a mix of sand and compost.
You can dip the cuttings into growing hormone powder if you want, but it is not really necessary with Phlox.
Then push the bare stem down into the soil alongside the side of the pot.

You can place 4-5 cuttings into such a pot.

6) Next, you thrust three sticks into the outer edge os the soil in between your cuttings. I have placed three short bamboo lengths, as you can see.

7) Water the soil in thoroughly and cover with a clear plastic bag...

...and seal it with a rubber band (if you make some small holes in the bag, otherwise do not seal it).

If it becomes too humid in the bag, remove it periodically to allow ventilation, then replace it. This is to prevent mould formation.

Cool

Set your cuttings in a light place, but not in direct sunlight and wait. You should have roots within six weeks or so if all goes well. It is often advised to place them on something warm--like a propagator or a heating pad--something to give a low degree of warmth as this stimulates root-forming.

9) These can then be potted-on into their own pot--one cutting per pot and set away for the winter. Give them a tiny bit of water every now and then to keep the roots from drying out completely. Next spring after all chance of frost, plant them in the bed where they will remain.

Good luck!

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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html