Yoikes, Scoobs, I'm getting out of my depth with this gardening thing....propagation.

[Gizmo]

Now, having valiantly ignored the comedy potential of a thread title featuring the terms 'rooting','box','hardwood' and 'bottom heat' maybe someone, er, more experienced than me can help.

I have fistfuls of clippings from a box ball (fnar - there's another) that I'd like to make into lots of smaller plants. Mostly between 3-6 inches long and generally sort of semi-hardwood. Last night I diligently stripped most of the leaves off, dipped them in hormone powder and set them in pots full of peat compost/vermiculite mix. Stuck them in plastic bags and have left them in a very light part of the kitchen.

Now what? Should I mist them? Should I feed them? How long before they root? What's the earliest I can expect to feel them kick?

Please spare a minute to help a little box cutting: my track record with propagation is pretty dismal, so their Fate is in Your Hands....

[Gizmo]

Aaahhh, it seems they are doomed, poor things...

[WigWamBam]

Leave them - the plastic bag will make sure that they stay damp enough. Make sure it's sealed well with an elastic band.

Box is pretty quick to propogate - couple of weeks and you'll know whether they've taken or not. Box propogates easily so fingers crossed!

[HuwEdwards]

yes agree with WWB - just keep an eye on them that they don't for some reason dry out.

[Gizmo]

Ah joy! Maybe I shall hear the patter of little twigs after all. Mind you, it is all on the floor and the baby likes nothing better than a mouthful of refreshing compost, so I'm not going to be able to relax until it's hardened off.

I'm a bit paranoid, having just murdered some Rosa Glauca cuttings despite spending money on some of that rooting gel a few weeks ago. Even the rosemary cuttings I put in that stuff are still sulking, and I've rooted rosemary cuttings in jam jars full of water before now

[WigWamBam]

I have to say, I've never bothered with rooting hormone for anything.

Box is easy enough to propogate without it - you could probably do that in a jamjar of water too.