Prepare Your Stools for Next Year’s Cuttings
- Keep stools outside and protected.
Store stools outdoors where they’re shielded from cold wind, rain, and slugs. Plants need to chill and remain dry and dormant until 2–4 weeks before taking cuttings. This chilling period produces stronger, more vigorous cuttings for the next growing cycle. - Temperature tolerance.
Most mums tolerate one or two nights down to 28°F, but three or more consecutive freezing nights can kill all but the hardiest varieties. During severe cold snaps, temporarily move stools into a garage, greenhouse, shed, or under a tarp until temperatures rise. - Warm up stools before taking cuttings.
Move stools into a heated area (around 60°F) 2–4 weeks before cutting time. Feed with a high-nitrogen fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro to stimulate fresh growth.
For many growers, this means bringing stools in and heating by mid-December to begin taking cuttings in mid- to late January.
Clean and Refill Your Cutting Beds
Every 3–4 years, refresh your cutting beds:
- Clean out old media.
- Spray structures and mats with a fungicide.
- Refill with fresh cutting medium.
Even if you start cuttings directly in 2½” cross-bottom pots or newer pellets, your trays likely still sit on your old cutting bed—so cleaning is still essential.
Recommended Cutting Medium
50% Green Mountain sharp white sand
50% Pro-Earth #2 starting mix
Why this mix works:
- The sharp-edged Green Mountain sand (crushed stone) nicks the cambium, encouraging extensive root development.
- Pro-Earth #2 is finer than M&R, includes a basic fertilizer charge, some slow-release fertilizer, and trace elements.
Cutting Bed Basics
- Cutting beds require heat cables or pads to maintain 65–69°F.
- Add rigid foam insulation under cables or pads for heat efficiency.
- Cutting media depth: approximately 3 inches.
- Bed should accommodate standard 11″ × 22″ trays (mats are sized in similar multiples).
- Use an overhead fluorescent light—a 4-ft two-bulb shop light works well.
- Specialty bulbs (Gro-Lux, Plant-Gro) are optional; regular white bulbs are usually sufficient.
If you’d like help designing or building a cutting bed, contact one of the ECA’s experienced growers. Photos of a two-tray cutting bed design are included.
