Hi Stan: I live in Chipman and catch part of your program. Last week you were talking about cotoneaster cuttings but I missed exactly how to go about starting them. I can't find this info on your web site so I hope that you will post it on the site as I would like to start some cuttings. Thank you. Ellen Ellen - The propagation of cotoneasters are done three ways: the best is by seed, taken now and put through a food processor with a cup of water, and let process for about 3 to 5 seconds on the lowest setting. Drain the product on to a screen to collect the guck, then spread out to dry. When dry, spread on a mixture of half peat, half sand, about 3 inches deep in a container. Sprinkle 1/4 inch of the seed mix over the seed [and probably broken bits of the seed husks] press into the mix to uniformly even the seeds into the mix. Water and grow on as you would perennial seedlings... cool, bright and moist. The second way is the easiest, and but not as successful : take cuttings of the last 6 or 10 inches of the cot. stem while they are still frozen. Dip them onto the powder of a root starter called Seridix or Stim root. Use a container that will hold at least 6 inches of the seeding mix [ like a 2 liter milk container] and push the cuttings down into the mix at least half of their length. You can put about 8 or 10 to a container. On a consistant heat source, like a heating pad, and mist over the cuttings at least 8 to 10 times per day to encourage budding and the beginning of the rooting process. Begin in low light conditions, the move to high light conditions when the buds begin to swell and break open. The third and more easily done, but not until the ground thaws, will succeed for a dozen or so plants, and is by taking the volunteer sports from the last seasons seed. Uniformity is lacking, and damage to the individual seedling is sometimes not evident until too late to re-do the procedure.

BACK