Cuttings Suggestions??

[ryanguevara1983]

Hello all, I'm going to be teaching horticulture to primary aged children from Sept.

I'd like to show them how to take cuttings - but I want very easy ones, with a good success rate - otherwise they might lose interest!

I'm thinking buddleia and lavatera so far, and some fuschias to overwinter in the greenhouse.

Does anybody have any other suggestions please?

Huge thanks.


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[Scarlet]

Hmm, how many are in your group? presume you need to have ample supply of the parent plant. With that in mind you could do blackberry bushes?
Black currants take very easily but you'll need several bushes for cuttings.
Geraniums and sedum do very well for me and you will get several cuttings from a single plant.

[ryanguevara1983]

About 20 in the class - but got lots of classes so the more the merrier! Fruit bushes is a good idea - raspberry and gooseberry are easy too I've heard.


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[veggiechicken]

Not raspberries from cuttings - from suckers at the base.
Gooseberries are thorny and not easy to handle.

[ryanguevara1983]

Thanks - do you just dig up the suckers - do they have roots? What time of year? Thanks all.


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[WPG]

Another suggestion might be lavender - I think you could get away with taking cuttings of that in September (though probably no later).

I remember Monty Don taking lots of chrysanthemum cuttings, but not sure what time of year that was.

Two cuttings that I've had success with are the evergreen honeysuckle, which can be taken in autumn, and also buddleia, which you've already mentioned.

[andy_j]

Once you get to November time, you can take hardwood cuttings. Forsythia and willow are among the easiest.

Some of the softer plants...may be houseplants even, will root in water...fuchsias and busy lizzie being a good example.

Don't neglect growing things from seed either. Lots of tree seeds around which could teach kids about the need for a cold period (stratification) and even growing oranges and apples etc from pips is good for the kids.

Although the kids might get lose interest, it's essential you teach them patience, especially in this game. There's lots of seeds that will come up in less than a week, especially if bottom heat is used.

I used to teach my daughter's primary school about horticulture and I loved every minute of it. Good luck

[Two_Sheds]

Black- and redcurrants are super easy cuttings. I cut off the whole fruiting branch and stick it in the soil. They nearly all take

Fuchsia are easy to root in a glass of water, as is willow

[rhonsal]

Lavender, rosemary, dianthus, lemon balm, salvias, fuchias, roses - lots to choose from and must be esy if i can get them to root and grow!!

[george356]

When I was in infant school, in the early 50's, we used a jam jar, a sheet of blotting paper and a pea seed.

Cut and roll the blotting paper so that it fits snugly inside the jam jar against the glass, put a pea against the glass half way up, held in place by the blotting paper and dribble some water into the bottom of the jar.

As the pea develops you can show root growth, top growth and also the effects of feeding/not feeding.

These are all vital elements of gardening. You could also make a game of who can grow the tallest pea.

[Jeanied]

You can root rose cuttings in a potato - maybe not 100% success rate but worth a try.
You could peg down strawberry runners to make a new plant.
Tomato side shoots can be rooted to make new plants.

On the shrub side, I have grown Philadelphus (mock orange) and Deutzia from semi ripe cuttings.

House plants can be good candidates - schlumbergera (Xmas cactus) Chlorophytum (spider plant) and
Crassula (money tree) are all easy to propagate.

[Raybon]

Mint! Root in water for quick visible results, to be inspected daily.......kids like to see progress!
Geranium cuttings likewise.

[Greenleaves]

Something my nan always took cutting from was busy lizy, just in jam jars of water. I was always facinated by seeing the roots grow