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Skimmia cuttings - how to get them going?

Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 188
in Plants
Hi there,

I've recently got some Skimmia cuttings from my parents - both male and female varieties. I've put most of them hanging over an old plastic box filled with water and 2 of them in some potted compost. However, neither of them seem to be doing anything (apart from the compost ones wilting a bit).

Any advice on what I can do to get them going?

Thanks!

Posts

  • Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 188
    Does anyone have any advice please? :smile:
  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 808
    @Shoxt3r I have been quite successful, when taking young cuttings, by just putting them straight in the ground!
  • TheveggardenerTheveggardener Posts: 1,057
    Shoxt3r, there is a video on uTube that explains how to do them..

    https://www.google.com/search?safe=strict&rlz=1C1CHBD_en-GBGB824GB824&q=how+to+take+cuttings+from+skimmia+japonica&sa=X&v
  • Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 188
    Many thanks both!
    I'll give both methods a go and hopefully something will come of them - hope to report back soon! :smile:
  • Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 188
    A bit of an update - the skimmias are growing well after following the advice in the following YouTube video. I'll be opening the bags right up this weekend and hopefully they'll really settle down so they can be replanted in a few weeks time.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qTwvH2nccs
    Thanks for the help!
  • Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 188
    Bit of a long overdue update (baby preparations!) but the skimmia plants aren't growing much more than when I uncovered them - I'm guessing due to the rainy weather we've had recently and the lack of sun.

    Is it worth me planting them out into the ground and see how they go now? They're still within the pots I originally planted them in. They still look healthy but just aren't growing much at all - some also looking quite a bit healthier than others.

    Any thoughts?
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 558
    I would plant them in individual pots and see how they look in the Spring. Don't think I would put them in the ground yet.
  • Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 188
    Ok thanks for the tip - will give that a go!

    When I checked them over yesterday the leaves had started turning yellow which I guess points to too much rain? We have a load of sudden downpours over the weekend.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,143
    I hope you have them somewhere shady?
    Even sun lovers need shade as cuttings. Skimmias don't perform well in sun even as mature shrubs. Some leaves dropping/yellowing is normal, but they shouldn't have a lot of foliage on them as cuttings anyway.
    Generally speaking, all cuttings need protection from extremes of weather, but excess water will not harm them unless they're growing in unsuitable conditions. I currently have Verb. bonariensis cuttings and dianthus pipings taken recently. They're against the house wall and have good protection from rain and sun, but they are planted in very gritty compost. If I left them in the open they would be saturated by now as we haven't had a completely dry day here for almost a fortnight, but even then, with the right soil mix, they would probably survive.  :)

    Have you got a photo of them? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Shoxt3rShoxt3r Posts: 188
    Thanks for the reply! Finally got out in the garden today to do some tidying up and take a shot.



    They're in a fairly shady spot but not sure what's happening with them.
    Any thoughts please?


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