I have tried taking cuttings twice with no sucess and would love to know how. I have a really lovely Fushia colored bottle Brush and I think it is called a silver dollar Eucypltus. Any advice will be appreciated.
Help with rooting Bottle brush Bushes or Silver Eucyplptus
Bottlebrushes are usually of the genus Callistemon, and although still of the same family, Myrtaceae, are not Eucalyptus. Some Banksias are also referred to as bottlebrushes due to the similar structure of their inflorescences. Melaleucas also have a similar inflorescence structure but you don't usually hear of them being referred to as bottlebrushes. Most likely you'd have the Callistemon. They readily grow from seed but if you want cuttings it's best to use semi mature wood.
You can also do air layers.
So where are the seeds. Is i the little node from where the bloom falls off?
The seeds are very small and are contained it the woody structure that develops from where the flowers were. These woody seed pods are designed to open after fires or extended hot dry periods. The best way is to wrap something around them to catch the seed when they fall. A lot of myrtaceae family plants have woody seed pods, some fairly large.
Took a photo today of the seed capsules/pods of a Callistemon. You can see they haven't opened yet even though they're from the previous year's flowering.
On this one there's one that's opened but not the rest.
The flowers have only recently finished on this one and the capsules are very immature.
T-breeze, excellent shots, much appreciated.
I've tried to grow this from all manner of cuttings with no success. Now that I know what the seeds look like, I'll go snitch some from my neighbor and try that approach.
You mention their adaptation to open/germinate after a fire --do the seeds need to be scarified or perhaps cooked in some way before they'll sprout?
Any insight into whether multiple seedlings can remain "ganged" and thrive longer term? Or should they be separated out to mature individually? I ask because I can't tell whether the best of the specimens from which I can swipe seeds is an individual plant (with trunk an amalgam of suckers) or a clump of plants that have melded together.
The seeds are very fine and the seed capsule is pretty thick. Make sure you get the oldest unopened capsules. Put them is a very warm dry place and the seed will be released. Seed needs to be sprinkled thinly on a mix that is well drained. Only lightly cover it with fine sand. Don't know about growing them "ganged". I can't see any reason why not.
thanks, noonamah
Thanks again.
"ganged" ?????
Ganged, meaning several cutting put close together in the same container of soil for rooting.
Some say if you "gang" your cuttings they root better (not sure there's solid science behind that, but...). I've used the technique with mixed success, but when it works the plants need to be separated out early, or the root mass can become hard to get apart.
Not sure why (if?) this really works --it didn't for me with bottle brush cuttings. Perhaps cutting release some self-enhancing chemical and ganging maintains a higher concentration. Or maybe it's the effect of higher concentration of rooting hormone. Could also just be better, more stable moisture retention within the concentration of cuttings that helps.
What about water rooting? That's how I root my Brug & Hibiscus.
Anything's worth a try, but I'd have thought it wouldn't work with Callistemon.
I am gonna trying both water root and and soil. Don't really want them...just experimenting...if it works will have them to share.
Sounds good.
One of the local nurseries grows bottlebrush plants from cuttings in soil. I've tried it with no success, but he does it quite well.
name and # for your local nursery?
Maybe he uses a rooting hormone on the cuttings.
I've tried with a bit, with a lot, and without rooting hormone --nuttin'.