It could work if this rain keeps up and it doesn't get too hot like it usually does in August. I think the heat kills cuttings faster than anything else around here. Were you at the Spring swap when we had the little workshop about rooting rose cuttings? That method used clear plastic cups, a mini-greenhouse and misting hoses. I kinda think the main thing is for the cuttings to stay moist and cool, prevent mold if at all possible, and to not be tempted to check for roots too soon. I'm an utter failure with cuttings, although I have started a few plants this year by layering. Cheryl

Taking cuttings is somewhat depended on the need/looks of a plant and the objectives of the gardener, and the success of propagation is also somewhat related to the cycle of time to prune a plant. There are different pruning cycles for different plants. For example, I take large cuttings from Butterfly Bush, roses, and Gardenia mostly in early and late Spring when they have to be pruned. However, more cuttings can also be taken as needed or in the late summer and fall again for roses. It has been written that rooting roses is easy, but I have had little success propagating roses (multiple tries at different times with different varieties) and only had a few successes from cuttings taken from fall pruning. Gardenias shouldn't be pruned after July (I pruned veitchii only immediately after blooming and don't prune them by late May - June) when they w'd be growing shoots and buds for the following spring.

I root cuttings only in shade and often with a plastic dome or box, a plastic bottle, or an inverted glass jar to reduce the water loss through the leaves (may also trim or cut the leaves in half) and to increase the surrounding humidity when the cuttings have no roots.

August is a great time to take cuttings. My main problem with rooting things at this time of year is that the baby plants are not ready to withstand winter once it reaches November. I've lost lots and lots of baby plants that way.

August is great to make cuttings is you keep those roots moist. No need to put a plastic dome over the tray, it's already hot. Shade is helpful. I like to use one of those window-box planters from the hardware. It keeps the roots moist.

I keep one of these in the shade most of the time: when I accidentally break a coleus or something else, the cutting goes right into the moist soil for another time or a visiting gardener.

Right now I'm thrilled that I finally got a cutting from pink plume plant to root! Yea!

Although most of my rooting has been done in Feb. - Apr. for crepe myrtle and roses, then again sept - Oct. for roses. I've been somewhat successful this summer with a variety of plants: coleus, polka dot plant; hardy hibiscus, ivy and even roses. Of course I always lose some, but the thrill of seeing those little white roots inside a clear cup keeps me going.
Temperature and moisture play a big part in success--and fresh rooting hormone.
Weldon

Denise, I started taking cuttings for our Oct. swap, two weeks ago, and potted up 99 rooted cuttings yesterday. I have probably that many more that weren't rooted yet and will need a little more time. I'll be starting some more today, so yeah, I'd say this is a good time.
Jim

August is a great time for rooting cuttings!

Two rules as noted already; Don't let them dry out, not even once! Keep them in the shade! They don't need sunlight at this point.

I thought you might be interested in this technique as well. It works when you have something that is just near impossible to root, like Coppertone Loquat, or Rangoon Creeper.

Good luck!

Janie

Here is a link that might be useful: The

Thanks. I will definitely give it a try to see what happens. I plan on digging some plants and potting them up for the plant swap, but this will give me a chance to try my hand at propagation via cuttings. I have been successful with some rose cuttings and am waiting to plant those in my new rose garden this fall, but have not tried other plants as much. This will be fun!