Softwood shrub cuttings - too hot in greenhouse?

[raisedbedted]

I want to take some cuttings of Savias, Lavatera, Philadelphus and Hydrangea. 

I'm concerned that its getting too hot in the greenhouse for them - I took some cuttings lately and they fried, where do you think would be best - in the house or in a shady spot in the garden?

I sowed some foxglove and Paulownia seeds 5 weeks ago in the greenhouse and no signs of life there either.

Many thanks all....

[raisedbedted]

[Garden Manager]

if your greenhouse was well shaded or you could shade the bit where the cuttings are then it might be worth a try, otherwise a cooler spot would be needed, ideally a cold frame or windowsill that itself does not get too hot (north facing ideally). This is a problem i have myself when taking softwood cuttings of shrubs and tender perennials. I do everying right, but if i cant keep them cool enough i still loose them.

Hope this helps

[laurieuk]

You really do not need a greenhouse, just protection from wildlife and wind. A cold frame would be ideal. Even your seeds at this time of year do not need the high temperature of a greenhouse. We do tend to fuss a bit too much.

[raisedbedted]

You really do not need a greenhouse, just protection from wildlife and wind. A cold frame would be ideal. Even your seeds at this time of year do not need the high temperature of a greenhouse. We do tend to fuss a bit too much.

Not really fussing just trying to keep everything in one place so I dont forget to water, think GA's idea of a cool windowsill sounds best.

[laurieuk]

Did not mean to be rude it is just that sometimes we including, me , try too hard and make the job more difficult. I was asked a while back about someone having poor germination with sweetpea seed and it turned out he had put them in  propagation and ribbed them with sandpaper.
He had bought from the same grower as me, I had 100 0/0 germination just putting the seed in a pot and leaving alone. 

[sunloving]

Hi
Ive been doing a bit of propagation to this month and the only place ive found where things havent fried or ive forgotton to water has been my north facing kitchen windowledge or in the shade of the greenhouse (on the outside) . I think the key to softwood cuttings is keeping it humid so a bag over the top . You might loose one or two to rot but they wont dry out and not root so much.

but then I only expect maybe 50% sucess.

Good luck
x sunloving

[Paulines7]

I have polythene bags over all my cuttings and have them on the shelves of a mini greenhouse without a cover, in a shady area, facing east.  I have taken a lot of cuttings this year as I had some spare time when it was too hot to be out in the main vegetable garden. 

[terrier]

As I havn't got round to making my cold frames yet, all my cuttings go into Wilco's black plastic trays. They have clear perspex lids so basically they are cold propagators. This time of year they live outside on the shady side of the greenhouse so very little if any attention is required. I think the rule for cuttings is plenty of light but NO direct sun on them.