Cuttings growing shoots, not roots

I went cutting crazy a few weeks ago in fear of our first icy blast. I took cuttings of pitcher sage and mainacht salvia along with a few others which are all in water and growing roots now. Well the salvia and sage aren't growing new roots from the cut part of the stem, but instead sending up new shoots from the nodes below water level. Never have I had this happen, what the heck should I do? Will the roots come eventually? They otherwise seem healthy, I mean they are producing new growth, just not the root growth I was hoping for.

Some pics of the sage and salvia. Hope I did the right thing potting them. I wasn't sure if they would start rotting in the water, but I didn't want to chance it! Still unsure of what to do with them now.. Light or no light, heat mat or not? Aaarg how confusing!

I wish I could help you Becky but, I haven't seen that before either...it's a good sign though.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that was weird. I must have tried at least 2 dozen different types of cuttings just this year, but these made me go Whaaaa??

In case the pics are confusing, any of the light green leggy looking growth is all new and emerged after I took the cuttings and while they were in water. Just today, I dusted the cut ends in rooting powder before sticking them in potting mix. The salvia had pre roots forming, like a halo of nubs emerging from where the cut was made. The sage still shows no signs of rooting.

The pics were completely self explanatory...I've seen roots or rot, not just new shoots. I'm mystified. However, I think you're looking after them just fine.

I'm wondering if its possible that you accidently turned them upside down before initially putting them in the water, and their just doing the best they can under the circumstances.
(Just my two cents.)

I would say that some things I have read about re-potting and cutting off flowers to encourage root growth, make me think think that those side shoots were ready and are emerging at the expense of root development. Since you look to have a good number of shoots, I'd consider pruning some of them and see if they do better. I am curious though if they aren't in water, are you pulling them up to see the roots? There is an old adage about patience that goes " Don't pull up your seedlings to see how their roots are growing" LOL!

Yes I started them in water, then potted them when the shoots started going rampant. When I removed them from the water and planted in soil, the shoots were the first to wither and then go limp and die. The cuttings died eventually and when I carefully lifted them with a fork to inspect for roots there were none, not even a few fine threads to be found.. these cuttings were taken November 2013 as a last ditch effort to have the plants this spring. Oh well, both parent plants living outside made it through this icy winter so I'm not too worried about taking cuttings this fall.

Hi All, does anyone know how to root plumbago? It is a blue plant and I would like to root some from it. Thanks, Alda

Hi Alda
I have never done Plumbago, but the book 'Creative Propagation' says you can do immature tip cuttings in May, divisions April-May, or semi-mature cuttings June-July. It can also be layered, you could start that anytime. Good luck and let us know how it works. I love blue flowers too, Plumbago does not grow for me here, but here is a Gentian and Ceanothus.