I have a friend that is a 78 year old herb farmer. When she is getting ready for her events that are open to the public I spend days helping her get ready. In exchange she gives me herbs, cuttings and has taught me how to root cuttings.
Her method is have the trays ready before taking cuttings. She uses a seed germinating mix (yes, it has peat) but is fine. She packs it very tightly into the cells. Air pockets are the enemy that causes cutting to rot. She does not use any rooting hormone. Cuttings are taking from the tneder shoots and the leaves stripped from the part that will be under the soil. She grows in a green house and keeps them well misted. She also has an outside misting bed that she use if the weather conditions are right.
I don't have a greenhouse so I put my prepared cuttings under the same grow lights I use for vegetable seedlings and mist them daily. Since I started using her methods my success rates have improved dramatically.
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