propagation help needed please

Discussion in 'Seed Starting / Propagation' started by petals, Aug 26, 2011.

  1. petals

    petals Seedling

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2011
    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    British Clumbia
    I love to take cuttings etc, but I am never sure if they need to be covered while rooting or not. Is there any specific details available. Thank you for nay help in advance
     
  2. Loading...


  3. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    May 5, 2009
    Messages:
    11,679
    Likes Received:
    3,099
    Location:
    S. Liberty County - Texas (8B)
    My success rate with taking cutting is about 50%... but I think alot of it depends on what type of plant(s) you are trying to start.
    I have no problem with "soft" cuttings. Usually just stick them in some dirt with a little rooting hormone and before you know it... they have taken.
    But... when it comes to "hard" cuttings... like roses... I have little success, even with covering them and following expert advice.
    With that said, is there a specific plant or plants you are trying to propogate now?
     
  4. calinromania

    calinromania Young Pine

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    Messages:
    1,549
    Likes Received:
    357
    Location:
    Oradea, Romania
    I have been trying to root some rare viburnum cuttings I "borrowed" from botanical gardens. I find the ones out in the open dry up their leaves and die altogether. Some of the ones I put in plastic bags and tied them, look a lot greener. Not sure if it's a successful operation... but that's just what I realized.
    With roses, I have quite a lot of success with plastic bottles (PETs) on top. The cap is slightly screwed, so I can easily open it and pour water inside when I feel the soil is dry.
     
  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    20,114
    Likes Received:
    18,643
    Hi Petals,

    When I do cuttings I always cover the pot with a clear celophane bag. Always. It helps keep leaf moisture. There is moisture loss from the twig through the leaves. If the cutting looses too much moisture, it will not root. The plastic bag helps lessen moisture loss.

    Have a look at this posting--perhaps you will find it interesting:

    http://www.gardenstew.com/about16420.html

    The plant featured was Phlox, but I use this same procedure for all stem cuttings that I do.

    I hope that you have some good luck with your propagation.
     
    Frank, Donna S and Karrma like this.



    Advertisement
  6. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2011
    Messages:
    9,332
    Likes Received:
    4,855
    I pretty much do as Sloerds tutorial shows, except I mist my cuttings daily. You don't want the leaves to get dried out. The other thing to keep in mind is that if you are taking cuttings of something with large leaves, it will not hurt them to cut off 1/2 of the leaf. this way the cutting isn't struggling to suck up enough moisture to keep itself hydrated. And I cover EVERYTHING that I am trying to root, no exceptions.

    I assume you use a rooting hormone to help, also? (if not your success rate will be very poor) If it is hard to come by you can make a willowbark "tea" everyday and dampen the soil with that to help stimulate the rooting.
     
  7. mart

    mart Strong Ash

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    5,582
    Likes Received:
    4,139
    Location:
    NE Texas
    If I root in water I just stick a couple of willow twigs in the water too. Usually I take off all leaves except top one or two.
     
  8. petals

    petals Seedling

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2011
    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    British Clumbia
    thank you all for your very good advice,the plants are am planing to propagate from are
    the Carnation and Dianthus. Thank you all for your interest.
     
  9. Gardengirl

    Gardengirl Young Pine

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2008
    Messages:
    1,118
    Likes Received:
    120
    Location:
    Bembridge, Isle of Wight
    I have taken carnation and dianthus cuttings petals. If you go down to a leaf node you can usually just pull out a piece of the stem quite easily. I then just carefully remove the bottom leaves of the cutting and dibber them into a plastic plant pot, placing the cuttings around the edge of the pot as they tend to root better that way. I keep them in my greenhouse and after a while you will feel a little resistance if you slightly tug at the cutting which means that roots are growing. Good luck.
     

Share This Page