Milk Jugs Aren't Just For Wintersowing!

Experimented with my excess one gallon milk jugs and tried some propagating. Put plenty of drainage holes in the bottom, left the cap on, but did poke a hole near the top for a bit of ventilation. I used an awl. Using a mix of sand, peat moss, and vermiculite, I filled each container to about 4" in depth. Rounded up my cuttings, dipped them in my rooting gel, poked holes in the rooting soil mix spaced about 1" apart, and inserted the cuttings. After misting the plants and soil, I inserted a label & taped up the jug. Placed them all in the shade and now 5 weeks later here they are, still doing great.

By the way, edited to mention that I uncapped the containers to mist the plants every few days.

This message was edited Jul 16, 2012 2:25 PM

This message was edited Jul 16, 2012 2:27 PM

Great idea! (I wouldn't even be able to read my own hand writing....but that's another problem altogether.) That's some lovely propagating you have going there!

That is a good idea-----to do cuttings in the jugs.
They probably do not dry out that way.

That is a great idea! I'll have to try it. I moved the milk jugs that I seeded three months ago to under the persimmon tree that gets some watering in hopes that something may come up. Hope springs eternal!

I have now transplanted most of the rooted cuttings to their own pots and they are still doing very well. I will try to get a picture soon.

What did you tape them with, and how did it hold up in the weather?

pollen -- in her image, one jug looks like it has duct tape.
the duct tape never lasted for me.

So you got the sweet olive to germinate this way? I have been trying with no luck, although the one I just have in water is still green and looking good, just no roots.

I may have to try this! I so want sweet olive.

I use Gorilla tape and it works AWESOME

I always use a number system that goes back to my excel spreadsheet that id's the plant. It is easier to just put a number than the whole name.....

Looks like it is a success. I never though about the milk jugs as a start container for rooting. Thanks for sharing your idea.

Jan

Jan, I do the same thing. early years I'd do a name and a number... too much work, now just the number corresponding to the spreadsheet.

Terese

Terese

I also only put the number on the milk jug, I don't waste plant sticks, those are for when I'm potting them up individually. Most of my WS was done to ad more plants for my garden club plant sale. Since moving south, I've not had to do any, but I like the idea of using the milk jugs for the cuttings. Great little mini greenhouses...


Jan

i'm planing on living in FLA in 2 winters. we are so done with the cold... so hopefully I'll be in your shoes very soon. [planning the move for 2015] I'll be interested in the sowing I can possibly do. [looking at the leesburg area]

Leesburg is just a little north east of me, you will be close enough for a visiting....LOL

Are you moving for good or just becoming a snow bird? If for good, you will never be sorry, especially when you are here and the rest of the United States is under snow and cold weather.

Jan

snow bird... we will do the April - Oct in Wisc and Oct - April in FLA til we no longer want to do the drive. I can not stand humidity, so we will try to leave before it gets too hot.

we enjoy cruising, so that is the major reason we chose FLA, though we do have a lot of friends down there.

I can not stand humidity, this is why A/C was invented silly... LOL No just kidding. when we were moving from northern OH to here DH didn't want to as he said it was too hot.... he wanted to go back to his home, Kentucky. But once he got here and learned when to go out and when not to, he loves it, and he can wear shorts year round....

Jan