I usually store my cuttings in the fridge until March when I start rooting them. However, I have several nice varieties that I would not want to lose but the cuttings are pretty thin. (Pencil size +\-) I do not have a good way to grow them out all winter but I was wondering if there was a way to root them now and stop their growth until I want them to continue to grow in March? (3 kids and no room inside. ) I was thinking of rooting them in moss and then sticking them in the fridge. Will this work??? Root, cover with potting soil, then the fridge??? I'm just worried that there is little stored energy in the cutting and it will not survive the winter in hibernation.

i dont have the answer but that is intresting i wana find out myself

Much better to wait.  I had some 1/16th inch wide cuttings and tried to root some in Feb, some in June and only the ones in June rooted.  I never thought I could root a cutting that small but 2 very kind donors proved me wrong.  It was a nice lesson to learn.

I wouldn't say a pencil sized cutting is too small to store. I had a few RdBs that were half your size for 6 months and they rooted fine.
The trick is to wrap them dry in saran wrap, no moisture, or they will rot otherwise, and keep in a fridge.
Your approach might be quite interesting to try though.

Aaron, if they're a variety I sent you recently, I encourage you to try it, and document / share your findings with the forum.
If it doesn't work out I'll replace them.
There's nothing like experimentation, and now there's no pressure :)

I don't want to be the Guinea Pig. I've been lazy and just throwing them altogether in ziplock bags by who they came from. Individually labeled of course. For these "little" ones I guess I will wrap them individually and wait to see what happens.

Ruuting - no they are not yours. Yours are great. I was not expecting both varieties. Thanks I just opened your package 5 min ago and they are now in my crisper. I would not experiment with yours. I have a couple Greek unknowns that I will be collecting this week. I'll try it with them. I will most likely have enough to share.

I haven't tested your theory, but I will add that I've rooted smaller than pencil-sized cuttings without a problem.  I'm so tempted to root now, myself, but I don't have the space to do it this winter.

If you have the correct controlled environment for rooting, and for dealing with them after rooting (greenhouse or. . .), then yes.

You say you don't have a good way to grow them during the winter .... so I would wait.  I like rooting things as soon as I get them but I have a spot set up in my shop.  I suspect young tender roots will rot if you stuck them back in the refrigerator once you rooted them.  I do the opposite...try to keep them warm until they are strong plants at least.

Can't talk your kids into giving up space in a bedroom to see a tree grow all winter long???

You didn't say if they are green or already lignified/hardened?
If they are still green for me they are more difficult to root and also more prone to damage if stored in the fridge.  The fridge can be a very dry place so wrap very diligently.
Since they are a special variety to you I would be inclined to root them now and provide them the environment and care they need. 

Hi Adelmanto,
In theory : if the cuttings (or plants) start sending energy to make roots, they'll need photosynthesis to keep the flow or reserve of energy - so that means leaves and water and nutrients and heat and light ( ok now the list is sort of not bad :) ).
If you start rooting them now, you're more than likely to get bud break at the same time that you'll get roots and thus you can't put the cuttings to sleep - or you'll loose the leaves.
So I would store them in the fridge and wait until March.
As an experiment, if you have enough cuttings, I would take 3 and put them in a pot with compost and overwinter the pot (in a shed, in a barn ...) as if there was a tree growing inside the pots.
And see next Spring if something comes out .
I did that this year, but then messed up with not watering enough or whatever and so the cutting leafed out and dried out. But this last Spring was really dry here so perhaps just the bad year
for that experimentation and my cutting was really short - it is more likely that with a longer cutting, managing the watering would be easier.
Good luck !

They are lignified. I will experiment with a couple methods and post my results.

Do not root now and put in fridge, IMO that will kill them.