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Annuals/Lilics
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Question
I have cuttings from a lilic bush my mom had in Whittier, CA (L.A. area) I live in north eastern Colorado now & want to pot the cuttings if I can - to transplant into my yard in the spring. What should I do so the cuttings will root successfully? Thank you for your time & your help!
Sorry to see this question so late, Dana, but I am just learning about the "experts pool" here.
Lilac cuttings are VERY hard to do successfully -- but it is still possible. If you are able to bottom warm the rooting container, you increase your chances. The stem must be cut at a slant, and the cutting must not be woody -- newer growth is easier. Next autumn would be a good time to learn layering of wood perennials to product another specimen -- you cut, cover all winter with peat moss, then in the spring you have roots for a baby Lilac.
I hope your cutting(s) went well this winter. If not, keep in touch and I'll describe the layering technique. Meantime, let me know if you have any questions.
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Answers by Expert:
Long Island Gardener
Expertise
Decisions, decisions... If you can't make up your mind which Annuals to grow, you're not alone. Problem with your new flowering Annuals flats? I`ve been there, done that. Petunias, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Marine Blue Lobelia -- they all grow here at my house on Garden Street on Long Island, N.Y.. Cutting and Cottage Gardens, Sun and Shade Gardens, White Gardens and Night Gardens, I`ve done them all. Annuals are the perfect summer flower, bursting with color June through fall's first frost. I can`t speak on Cactus or tender Tropical Plants -- they don`t grow outside in my Zone 7. I`m no Farmer, so I cannot guide you on Fruits and Vegetables. But whether it`s an Annual you want to start from seed, mail-order or pick up at your local garden center, I can help you grow amazing blooms this Summer. Yes, together, we can turn your neighbors green with envy.
Experience
I have a lifetime of gardening behind me here on the North Shore of Long Island. While I have degrees in related fields, there's nothing like hands-on work to build real knowledge. I stay on top of current science -- there's a boom in research, and Kingdom Plantae is filled with surprises. By the way, I really do live on Garden Street.
Publications
Gannett newspapers, The New York Times, and hundreds of others - but not on Annuals.
Education/Credentials
B.A., botany; graduate credits in European Intellectual History and Political Science; minor coursework in related fields, docent training at our local botanical gardens (required for volunteers). I'm currently working on an advanced biochemistry degree.
Awards and Honors
I could tell you, but then you'd know who I am.
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