I have been asked for a cutting from my SAMBO LEMON. My tree is small, about 15'' tall. IT is healthy and very bushy. I ALSO HAVE a 2 year old PUMELLO, about 3'to 4' tall and is also bushy. I WOULD LOVE to learn how to take cuttings. I don"t know how. Here are some questions I have and would appreciate any and ALL input and advice. My friend has a rentalhouse next door to me. I have permission to take cuttings from her trees. They are looking shabby but produce AMAZING JUICE ORANGES. Let me say too that I will also search the resources given to me by GATORMOM2 [THANKS] 1.... Are cuttings taken from new or old growth and is there a preferrable seaon to take those cuttings, that will increase my chances for success? 2....How large do the cuttings need to be? 3", 6" 3' or 6' [lol I hope not that big!] 3.....Straight cut or blunt cut....root hormone or not? 4.....Now what do I plant them into ???, AND do I plant immediately or allow them to 'heal over' a day or so? 5. Re: ???, what do I plant my cuttings into. ie sand,dirt, perilite or simular 'stuff'. I have to tell yall I am excited, this is something I have never attempted to do my self. I did buy cuttings for dragon fruit and frangipanni's on ebay last year and followed the instruction each seller sent, with 100% success on both accounts. My frangipanni bloomed earlier this year and is currently putting on a second blooming, The three varieties of Dragon fruit are busily climbing the stucture I set aside for them. These two items have taught me the value of following instructions and detail. Please dont tell me these would have rooted almost any way I treated them! lol PLEASE let me enjoy my fantasy that I did it JUST RIGHT. THANKS AGAIN......MAN DO I LOVE FLORIDA......

Carol, I start a few flower seeds in pots kinda willy-nilly as the mood hits me during hot part of the summer when I can't plant veggies, pop in a label, and pretty much forget about it except to water as I do my watering rounds. I never put the date planted, but they had to be sown last year sometime, as this spring I just separated the bunch that sprung up in the pot. I found these had sprouted and survived in my greenhouse as I was checking the pots in there during my winter/spring cleaning. I gave them all individual pots. I buy a lot of my flower seeds online as additions to other seeds I'm actually searching for, most places don't charge any extra for shipping when I add in a different seed packet or two. The freezer in the refrigerator I use for my chicken eggs, I use that for keeping my seeds fresh. Then during the summer I'll grab a flower seed packet or two and plant them in pots. I have ten acres so there's always room for plant additions. Lou

Bklyn, it looks like you are using the same lights as I. Nice. Are those L.E.D light bulbs? Socal very nice. I love that reflection. It looks very bright in there. NO wasted light for sure. Kvetch, you are not kidding there. I can't believe how LONG we have had this cold, snow, and below average temps, and it's not even winter yet. I keep looking at the ten day forecasters outlook and now I see 30's . no 40's. I think I am going to be sick. The ones on the porch I have to water often if I use a fan. If I don't use a fan, it can take a few weeks before they need watering, but they only stay moist thank God. The one in my all season porch, I have to water those every few days because it's much warmer in there, much more sunlight, and I also use fans. LOl. I hear you about window hogging..lol Right now my tree and orchids are competing for the best spot. Jenny, very nice. One of these days I am going to get an Australian lime. Does it produce lots of flowers that smell nice? I would go after the fragrance more than anything.. Laura, didn't it seem like yesterday when we were growing them all outside? Boy do I miss the days when all you had to do was use a hose..((( Yes, all the twist and turns one has to take to get around each tree can be such a pain. Very nice looking too.I hear you got a couple of scale? That's easy to get rid of once and for good. Let me know if you need a suggestion.)

Thank you Silica, I like learning the reasons behind the decision. I would love to learn "about" citrus trees: for example, that it's the leaves closest to the fruit and not the tree which supports the fruit, which marks indicate potential leaf sites vs. branch sites, when a tree drops a leaf can anything grow back at that spot, how to tell age of growth, that lemon trees have two different types of leaves depending on light efficiency, etc. Are there any books or sites that people can recommend which would contain this kind of information? Most of the literature I've encountered just offers practical advice, without the going into the science or biology of it.