Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Mid Atlantic Tropicals, 0 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Jill--

I would have to spray all my Brugs and now my MG with Alcohol. Not sure how the plants
will like it??? May do some damage--to add to the damage already done.
I mean--I would have to do this with a sprayer--big time!

Is there not some other insecticide out there besides NEEM that will control Mites?
Something that is not so sensitive to hot weather?

Gonna do the NEEM again tomorrow AM. Just have to do something!

Jill--Now--RE Brug cuttings.

You talk about "bubblers". PLEASE don't do that! Been there--failed at all that!!1
Please trust me that the BEST way to root them is just to take 5"-6" stem cuttings, of decent thickness--
and shove them in fresh, moist potting mix--all the way to the bottom in about a 5"-6" pot.
You can use rooting hormone if you like. Does not matter....
Do not try to root the soft tips as cuttings--been there--tried that--it never worked! The die off.

In my early years dealing with Brugs--I listened to all kinds of "experts" and tried to do as they said.
WOW! The "Bubbler System" sounded so logical! DG'er from FL and from CA were toting it THE way!
Went out and spent $$$ on all the supplies. The bubblers--the pump--the "T" diverters--all the tubing, etc....
Uses a lg--top cut off- jug as my vessel.
Followed the advice about H2O2 in the water---changing it often (forgot many times)--and also did not
do all the required cleaning and sterilizing as needed. Watching for the white "bumps" on the stem--
which was supposed to be the start of roots. One could pot it up at this stage. Success??? Occasionally.

Basically--whether you want to or not--there will be slime growing in the water--as well as on the cutting's bottoms.
Then the fungus would start to affect the cutting ends in the water. The skin would get all slimy and separate
off from the wood. The cuttings will decline--Basically--sure death!
I do not think you would have the time to check all the water and the state of the cuttings every day.

I think I tried this for a couple of years--never succeeding--and then gave up and went to the "directly into the soil"
method. It has NEVER failed me! NO rot! NO fungus! NO slime! They just root and pass the "tug test"
in about a week. Even quite fat stems will root this way. Even the main trunk--IF you want to try it.

Gita

Pic is of Jan. 2012. ALL my brug cuttings growing like crazy. Took them in mid-October, 2011.
Since I do not use my light set-up in the winter--I use them for all kinds of cuttings.

Remember my insane success with all the Coleus cuttings a couple years back? Used the lights as well.