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......

The Tuckeroo is a lovely evergreen and gets lots of marble sized fruits on it but they don't taste the best, maybe the name comes from Kangaroos liking them LOL. There are many different members of the Brachy family and you are right the Illawarra flame is one of them, they all flower and have interesting seed pods and lovely plump bodies.

Thanks everyone, Marion what colour is it?? Bev if I can grow one of your Hollyhocks here, you can grow one of my Frangipani there. You most likely watered it too much, let me know if you want some sticks to try again.. Annie I got it in feb 2001 from one of the Sunday markets around here it stayed in a pot for over a year, but it did flower the january after. Its about 6-7ft tall now. It will probably flower this year, as sticks of the fruit salad one I planted earlier this year have buds on already its only about 18ins tall. Greencroc you are welcome to SOME daylilys let me know. GH Yes they do come in some beautiful colours...Cheers..MM.

I'm assuming you are talking about syringa vulgaris. Perhaps it isn't getting enough sun. They will do much better in a full sun situation. In fact, they require it. Lilacs also require cold winters to do well. Are you in a nice, frosty area? Lilacs begin to produce their flowering bits in autumn (although the actual buds don't emerge until spring). If you prune during winter, you actually remove the bud material. If you need to prune, do if after flowering - or when flowering would have occurred. I wouldn't give up - the perfume is worth any amount of TLC. Perhaps you could move it to a position where it would be in full sun for most of the day. Lilacs like a rich, alkaline soil so give the site a good dressing of lime and incorporate a lavish application of organic material. Lilacs like moist soil, but not wet feet. Your new spot should be well drained but keep up the water over the warmer months. Mulch to conserve moisture, keep the soil cool and cut down on competing weeds. Once the shrub is established, fertilise regularly. The heavy pruning you gave it last year and a move to another site could set back flowering for another year or two. But don't be completely disheartened. Keep remembering the promise of the beautiful perfume. If you don't live in a cold winter area, there are a number of lilac species which flower at various times of the year and some of these will take warmer conditions.