Hello, Sorry it has taken so long for me to respond. I used a well sterilized medium (see address: http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Soil/sterile.htm), dip n grow root hormone at the concentration the container recommended for hardwood cuttings. The potted cuttings were put into zip lock bags and put into north facing windows. The cuttings have taken three months to put out roots, but calousing was noticable after one month. Many thanks, Werner www.binghamtonmemorialtree.webs.com

I watched a video on growing Cannas from seed. I live in Ont. ..so I waited until the pods turned brown..almost black... https://youtu.be/ocyDPVSAD3M I opened them and saved the seeds in a dry container. In March, I took sandpaper, and sanded each seed SLIGHTLY ...just until I just saw the white part inside. I then put them in a clear glass of water in a warm place until I could see a little white "bud" protruding...this could take 1 week, so be patient! Plant them in light soil, just below the top, under ANY kind of light...I used a regular florescent bulb. (You don't need anything fancy, or sunlight)Keep the soil moist, not wet. When they get bigger, take them outside during the day, when the warm weather permits to "harden" them. (Gets them used to being outside) Transfer outside when frost is finished...usually around June 1st. Mine bloomed the first year! The seeds were from a red canna...so far, they are YELLOW!!! I'm very pleased and excited! =)

Congrats. I grow all my Impatiens from seed. I used to grow them from cuttings. They were fine for the first 10 years or so and then the dreaded spider mites found my Impatiens. I tried everything but I got tired of fighting them and went to growing from seed. The first year I didn't have near the luck you did, but I finally learned how to grow them successfully. I grow the Tempo series because they are the earliest. I buy my seed from Stokes seeds--$7.65 for 250 seeds. The cheapest seed I've found. The seed is always good and germinates well--just in case you want to grow more. They do ship to the States. I have dealt with Stokes for 30 years and can vouch for them as a good place to order from. By the way the best way to grow Impatiens from cuttings is to put the cuttings right into the soil. Cut below a leaf--the roots come from a leaf node. Strip off the bottom leaves, dip in rooting compound, dibble a hole in moistened soilless mix, slip in the cutting and cover it in. In a week or so you will notice new growth and you will know your cutting has started to make roots. Leave for a couple of weeks until it's rooted well and then you can harden off and plant outside weather permitting

Some varieties of holly root easier than others. What kind of holly are you trying to root? Ilex pedunculosa is harder, so is purpurea. I've not tried opaca, but have many hybrids. Usually best to take hardened last season's growth sometime between Mid-August through November or December. Best to take cuttings when temps are mild and preferably in the morning from well hydrated plants. I put cuttings in small pots with 50% perlite / 50% commercial potting soil mix. I do use Rootone. I do not use a heat mat, but heat-mat use will likely give faster results. I put the entire pot into a zip-lock baggie. In winter most cuttings go into my heated garage -- no colder than 55 degrees F. Sometimes cuttings sit all winter and don't root until next spring or early summer. In summer the baggies go under a shrub to take advantage of summer warmth and higher light levels. Never set bag in full sun.