I have started 60+ varieties this winter and have done ok I think for a newbie but did lose all 3 Excel cuttings but I replaced them and the next batch did fine. There were a couple other varieties that I lost 2 of the 3 cuttings but felt fortunate I got one to go. One of the tough ones for me was 'Sweet George' I had 2 of the 3 cuttings rot in the cups. The 3rd survived even though I had written it off at one point but has been growing excruciatingly slow. Finally after starting it in November it started to take off and had 3 leaves on a side limb. Yesterday it graduated to outside and was placed in the shady mist bed to harden off. On the FIRST day outside a foot long piece of a tree limb came down striking the crotch in the limb with the 3 leaves and tore the entire limb off......it was sitting in the middle of 20 other pots none of which so much as lost a leaf. I don't care really as it is a low priority type but geez after all the plant had been through. I doubt it has the reserves to produce another leaf but who knows.