AusBonsai

Hi
I'm just curious but how much difference would an electric heat mat or propagator make in the timing that cuttings can be taken? Would you be able to take cuttings and strike them, using a heat mat at different times of the year?

My brother back home in SA seems to be able to strike cuttings all year round... Would bottom heat make this much difference?

Thanks

Yes it does - even better if in a greenhouse. The strike rate for cuttings increases dramatically compared to no bottom heat.

I strike cuttings of all sorts of plants all year round without bottom heat. Bottom heat will not allow you to strike cuttings at different times of the year but it will speed up the time taken for roots, especially in the cooler months, and it can possibly also increase the strike rate a bit.
Conversely, bottom heat can cause problems: Too hot and it will cook the cuttings instead of helping and it can also increase fungal problems.

Thanks for the replies Neil and Tony.
I think I was under the impression cuttings were done at certain times of the year...
thanks again

In the past with limited equipment propagators were limited to certain times of the year with some species and many books continue to preach this outdated info. I find with misting I can strike most things almost any time of the year. eg. I have been striking Black pine cuttings throughout last 12 months - spring, summer, winter with similar strike rates but much slower in winter.
Commercial growers know that certain plants sell better at a certain time of the year (ie in flower, mothers day, christmas, etc) so they put in cuttings at the time of year that will allow them to get a grown plant ready for sale at the best time of year rather than when it roots best.