On 1 Sep, 20:14, wrote:
In my experience, gardening books that I have seen so far, when
describing propagation of heathers, talk about layering shoots into
the ground from a plant in situ, or alternatively taking cuttings and
putting directly into a peat based compost. Has anyone had any success
in trying to get heather cuttings (Erica, Calluna etc) obtained
freshly from the plants, initially to produce roots in jam jars of
water indoors (rather like the usually easy method for getting fuchsia
cuttings to produce roots) and then been able to *transfer them *for
growing on further, into pots of *compost for (in the case of most
heathers) acid loving plants.

Geoff

Decades ago I did them in 1000's commercially but that was under mist
(Under those commercial conditions we got near 100% rooting 200 to a
tray). Under amateur conditions the trick will be to keep them cool at
the top with a bit of warmth underneath. You'll need to find a way of
providing near 100%rh without too much free water hanging about. After
rooting you then need to 'wean' them gently off the high humidity
before potting.
What do you have against layering? Just nearly bury your chosen plant
in ericaceous compost and brush around with your hands so the tips of
all the shoots are showing through and then. One growing season will
give you lots of strong young plants around your 'mother plant' that
can be cut off and transplanted without intensive care. Easy.

Rod