If you been using my plant propagation system to root cuttings of your favorite plants this summer, it’s time to start thinking about getting those small plants ready for winter.
If you haven’t yet built yourself plant propagation system, do so now because you can also use it to root hardwood cuttings over the winter.
Getting those little tiny rooted cuttings through the winter is easier than you think. All you have to do is plant them a row in your garden. Select a protected area, then keep an eye on them over the winter.
Sometimes the action of freezing and thawing ground can force small plants out of the ground over the winter. So check yours each time the ground thaws and if necessary just tamp them back in.
Come early spring transplant them to pots or to their permanent home in your garden.
If you still have cuttings that are in the process of rooting, or not yet rooted, just bury the entire flat so the top of the flat is flush with the ground. By spring those cuttings are likely to be rooted.
That’s it! Those small plants are tougher than you think.
13 Selling Secrets Every Plant Grower Should Know
I’m unclear as how I can post on this blog I’ve never done this before. I can see other posts, but don’t have a clue how to ask a question for myself. I have many questions, so I joined the membership to get some answers, but I’m stuck!
Please help!
Leslie, if you are taking the trial membership you should be able to click on the tab or link that says “forum”. Or call Duston in the office and he can help you. 440-259-4306
Hi Mike,
Nice site. The aweber.com links on your e-mails are NOT working for me.
And somewhere you had a page about how to sell on ebay, etc. Great page. I would like to read it again?? Where oh where is it?
Also, I should probably just mail you $$ to get your stuff. The on-line does not work for me!
John – Concord NH
John,
Here’s one link; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2013/05/how-to-sell-plants-online/. If you do order via the mail, be sure to include your email address since many of our products are digital deliver. McGroarty Enterprises Inc. P. O. Box 338, Perry, Ohio 44081
I have rooted several cuttings in tubs full of sand, and they are doing okay. But now what? Winter is coming. Should I leave them alone over winter? Should I pot the one that are rooted? Help help!
Leslie,
If they are well rooted you can pot them now, but some times freshly potted cuttings that haven’t had a chance to root in before winter can get pushed out of the pot by freezing and thawing. Just keep an eye on them. Or they can spend the winter in the sand. If you take the test drive of our members area, you can see what all the other members do right before winter.
Our Backyard Growers Members area is awesome! Learn all about it here:
https://backyardgrowers.com/join
I just ordered and received my first rooted plants, getting ready to start planting and pots, but will they do ok during the winter out side. I live in NC.
Trenney,
They should do fine, just watch over the winter to make sure they freeze/thaw cycle doesn’t push the plants out of the pots. Water as needed over the winter.
Hello,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I live in Ocala Florida. Not sure what zone that even is. I brought a cute little house with a fenced in decent sized yard. I have been really enjoying planting and potting up several kinds of plants since moving in here late May. I have 25 papaya various sizes. Some in pots, some in the ground. I recently planted a blood orange, a brown turkey fig, three blueberries, two dwarf mulberrys. I have a three foot tall avocado and small peach grown from seed that a neighbor gave me. A Meyer lemon, and a tangerine were already planted when I bought the house, and I’m getting tangerines now. They are not getting orange yet, but just starting.
I would like to know if there are any members in my area/zone, because Im afraid a lot of info here will not apply to florida. I have access to bars of pine bark mulch from lowes and Walmart, and I’m working on locating a source for a good quality mulch. I have not gotten any license yet, just starting out with lots of enthusiasm, and a desire to learn!
Debbie
Debbie,
We have a number of Florida members, but 99% of the information shared daily applies to every grower, no matter where they live. Plants are plants. The processes are the same, the only difference are the types of plants you grow. But we do have a number of Florida members.
HI Mike im a member and im wanting to know how to propagate and root to live some GrancyGrayBeard bushes and some smoke bushes. I have made several attempts at it and ive always failed. please help me!
Patricia,
Do them as softwood cuttings using one of these techniques, http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
I had a beautiful White Fringe Tree and I had to move it due to an addition being added to our house. I had trained it to have two central leaders, looked like pom-pons at the top…long story short: after I moved it to it’s temporary place during building, it did fine. But when I moved it back to where I wanted it to be it died. I was mad because it took me three years to get that shape to it and it was pretty. I stick with the easy to grow shrubs now: dappled willow, arctic blue willow, butterfly bushes, Japanese barberry and mock orange. Btw, I have black walnut trees in the yard so all of those except the butterfly bushes grow well here. I have the buddleia in a raised bed far away from the root zone of the walnut trees.
Jody,
You don’t say what time of the year you moved it. It makes a huge difference. The ideal time to transplant anything is when they are dormant. Thanksgiving to late March in most areas. The window is shorter in the south.
Do you need to water your cuttings during the Winter?
Smith’s,
Yes, if we don’t get rain or snow and it’s warm they should be watered. They don’t need much water during the winter but you shouldn’t let the rooting medium get too dry.
Hello Mike,
I just got started in the education so further study would probably answer this question. But it has to do with your propagation procedure you are doing with the sprinkler system. I read your introductory “The Backyard Cash Machine” and the propagation method was done in a box with white painted glass. Yet it seems that you have changed the propagation method to using no box and cover and instead having the propagation occurring in the open with a sprinkler system acting as a hydrating and cooling agent. It is my guess that you have changed the procedure because of an advancement in technology that you have discovered (constant sprinkler system acting as a cooling and hydrating agent). Or is this sprinkler system being used just for a particular type of plant that you are propagating?
I have large above ground planting beds which would be perfect if all I would have to do would be to add a layer of sand and sprinklers. I’m in the San Francisco Bay Area (Zone 9). Could I do all my propagation using your sprinkler setup?
Best,
Scott
Scott,
I’ve been using this system, http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/mikes-plant-propagation-kit/ for many, many years. The covered box method works, but not all that well. At least for me. Using the watering system is like magic if you have everything right. The system that we sell contains all of the critical components and two videos that explain it all in detail. It’s an investment, but using it you can root thousands and thousands of cuttings.
Quick question! I am starting my topsoil pile,I live in North Carolina and am going to purchase some pine hardwood bark from a saw mill. My question is are there any people in NC that could direct me to a good saw mill? Also is there such a thing as “triple” ground pine hardwood bark mulch? Thanks and HAPPY GROWING!
Laurie,
The members area will be open today, https://backyardgrowers.com/join, that’s usually the only place where I can share my wholesale sources. Pine bark is awesome and if you get aged or medium aged that would be really good.
Hi Mike – I remember you saying that you buy your pine bark mulch from North Carolina. Can you tell me who you are buying from? Thanks
Richard,
Post this inside the members area on the general discussion board and I can share those details with you.
Posting long past winter, but so excited!
My first time, bought great cuttings from the BYGC, potted up some plants and overwintered them. The others I just stuck in groups in sand. It’s April 4 in Missouri, and the Kiwi, pussy willows, spirea and others are budding out with small roots! I’m potting them up and people are already asking me what I have so they can buy them.
Color me stressed! I probably have 3000 plants altogether. Some didn’t make it through winter, and I’ve learned so much already!!
Thank you SO much, Mike and crew. You seriously have no idea how this is giving me a new lease on life at 61-years-old! I always was a little leary of going all in on this, because it seemed too good to be true, but I’m doing it, and I’m already worried about selling out!!
I spent the last three years caring for my mom n dad, and quit my job last March, so I’d been worried about getting a job since Mom n dad both passed at the end of the summer. Now, I’m not. I’m going to be ok. I’ll get my SSI, and work a part time job while growing my little nursery. And mom n dad would be so happy I’m doing what I love!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Penny Warner
Penny,
Thank you for sharing this, that’s absolutely awesome. I’m happy for you. Enjoy the journey.
Can we sell your products on our website? If so how can we do this?
Paul,
Thanks for asking but we no longer have an affiliate program. You are welcome to link to our website if you’d like to do that.
as a new member and very bad on the computer, I have no idea how to get on any of the web sights or to use your program. are there any members that are close to carrollton ga who would agree to help me or could you help me get on the business section or tell me how to buy seedlings etc, etc, etc…
Boyd,
Once logged in you just click on got to forum and there you can interact with other members and shop the buy sell section. If you need more help email Duston in the office. support@mcgroartyenterprises.com or mikeduston@gmail.com
Hi Mike,
Just wondering, but I get my cuttings and root stock this spring. I’m unsure if the ground will be ready where I am planting them by then. If it isn’t, what do I do with the cuttings and root stock to preserve them? Thanks
Jason,
Just heel them into a pot of soil in bunches until you can deal with them later. If you are a member here make sure you log in to access the members and discussion area. https://backyardgrowers.com/join