Cover with a sheet of clear plastic. Check regularly to make sure the cuttings do not dry out. When cuttings do not pull easily out of the soil, they have begun to root. Make holes in the plastic sheet to increase the exposure of the cuttings to the air. This will harden the cuttings.
Every few days make new holes, or enlarge the holes.
Make root cuttings of phlox, baby's breath, and oriental poppy. Dig the plants in late summer after they have bloomed. Put each piece in a peat pot. This site was developed for the Arizona Cooperative Extension , College of Agriculture , The University of Arizona . The University of Arizona.