Mid-Atlantic Gardening: PLANT ADDICTS CHAT #4, 2 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
SS--
Rooting cuttings of brugs is really easy.

DO NOT try to root any soft-growth cuttings (the new stems at the top)
as they do not do well. You need the ones that feel like hard wood already.
It does not matter how fat they are. You could saw the main stem in pieces
and root it--if you wanted to. Gave one like that to Paul one year--it grew!

Make sure to take a cutting that will have one or more nodes at the bottom
and at least on at the top. That is where the new growth will come from.
Also--try to take your cutting from ABOVE a "Y"--it will bloom sooner for you.
If you don't have that option--any location will do. It will just have to "Y"
nex year before it can bloom.
Also--cuttings need not be long--5"-6" is ideal--just watch the nodes!

Fill a 5" plastic nursery pot full with "Pro Mix", or such, water it until wet throughout,
make a fat hole in the middle (depending on the size of your cutting), moisten
the bottom part of the cutting--dip it into Rooting Hormone and set it into the hole--
ALL the way to the bottom. Firm soil gently around it--give it another drink--
and--that's it! Keep the soil moist--not soggy until new growth starts.

Keep the pot(s) in a nice warm area--Heat mats are NOT needed!--light is OK, but not necessary until leaves start growing. This may be as soon as 3 weeks.
Then water as needed. I usually keep mine on the top shelf of my light set-up
near a sunny window. I don't like to have to keep moving things around a lot.
There is a floor register right under this seed rack--so that provides the warmth.
Too much, sometimes, as my smaller plant cuttings (like Coleus) dry out quickly.

Honestly--I don't know why you would have a problem--unless you are using
green, soft tip- growth OR--you are trying to root them in water...Do not do this!

Let me go take a picture of the ones i just did to show you what they look like.

OK! here are thew pots i just "fixed up" yesterday. Two of them are for Donner.
She was going to come here to get hers-but had 2 meetings to attend--and could not.

Good luck! Call me--or D-mail me if you have any other questions.

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I also started 17 Fig cuttings today as Olga had her cousin from Spain here and
he cut all the stems, but two, completely down from her re-grown bush of a Fig.
I wanted to root some of the tips--so I cut of ALL the tips of the branches he cut down
(I'll be sorry if they all root!) and stuck them in 2 oval planters.

Mamma Mia!!! WHEN will I ever stop all this propagation stuff????

So--the second picture shows you all the Fig cuttings...just the same technique
as the Brugs. It may be ubtil next summer that i will, actually know, if any of them
are rooted. These, like Hydrangea cuttings take a while.
OH, they will grow leaves--but the roots will not yet be there...

Hmmm---Wondering if I should tent these??????? G.