Cala's starting in sand info

to save her typing again, this might help more than me. anyway, I'm on my way outside to take cuttings from everything!!!
"I cut the top off a 20oz coke bottle, fill
the bottom part with sand
and wet it, but not so much that it's floating in
water. I use play sand. I
dip the cuttings in rooting hormone, use a pencil
or stick and make a hole
in the sand, stick the cutting in and then mist
in with a tiny bit of water
to settle the cutting in. You can make a tiny
hole in the bottom of the cup
if the sand is too wet. I think I watered these
about once a week. Hope this
helps. "
thanks Susie!!!!

I just typed it in the Knightii post, I added a bit more info too.

tiG,
Sand is a great plant rooter...been using it for years.

have been doing fine in soil, but I want to take some tip cuttings and I think this will work best. And how can I argue with the success you and Cala have:)
glad I finally found y'alls secret!!!

Cala,
She knows now. LOL....tiG I can see it now cuttings and sand everywhere. LOL

you got it!!!! trays full already this morning!!

Hmmmm, we will be looking for TiG and she will be behind a huge load of sand!!! Don't forget to use a razor blade to take the cuttings!!

Ok Bonnie, Are you taking cuttings like the ones you showed me the other day? The ones you said you were going to leave and let them grow a little longer so that you could make cuttings? The ones that are growing down on the stalk of the plant?? OR are you taking cuttings from the top of the main plant itself?? I know I am too new to this and sound a bit dumb, but the only way to learn more is to ask more questions right??

Jist got back from Walmart with six 2 liter cokes. I guess I better call the grandkids over to help empty them.

Molly, I'm taking the ones you're talking about. I've rooted several already, but in soil. I'm thinking I'll have better luck with the sand, it won't dry out as fast.

O Ok Was just wondering if I was missing something here LOL I still have LOTS to learn!! So keep on teaching!!

I went to WalMart tonight and got a bag of play sand and a bag of Perlite. They didn't have Vermiculite.Will the Perlite work as well as the Vermiculite? Now I just have to crawl around in the GH tomorrow and try to find some cuttings. LOL

My neighbor prefers Perlite to Vermiculite or sand. I have read that play sand contains something to sanitize it - probably a disinfectant of somekind. Builder's sand is therefore recommended.

I've been using play sand and builders sand, haven't had any problems. If you're worried about it, just rinse it by filling a container part way with sand, run water in it and drain the water off. You can do this a couple or three times and it should be clean. I used to use perlite when I was starting African Violets, haven't used it in a while. A little warning about vermiculite, the USDA issued a notice that some of it can contain asbestos in trace amounts, so dampen it before working with it so you don't breathe any particles just in case. MaVie sent me the link about it.

Oh yes, I remember that article too. I use play sand too -I'm nor worried about it -I just read somewhere about it. I don't think you can buy builder's sand by the bag, and I don't want a truckload, lol!

How about "All Purpose Sand" like Home Depot sells, I've used it too.

Cala, Is the play sand that you buy very fine? The play sand I bought tonight is very fine and almost feels damp to the touch.

If it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me!!

How about plain ole' sand. That is all I have in the yard. Seems to work on most things.

I use river sand. I go down to the Biloxi River and get a couple of 5 gallon buckets full.....the river sand contains no salt and is free.

OK Glory, send us some, lol.
Yes, some of the sand I've bought is fine. It doesn't seem to matter. Is anyone trying the vermiculite? TiG, let us know how the perlite does, it seems "cleaner" than the vermiculite.

I have a friend that uses Kitty Litter!

it was snow using the perlite. I've tried it and only rooted one thing out of many tries.

TIG -You have mail!

Hmm, maybe I'll just try a few more common cuttings in the Perlite to test it and use the sand for the harder cuttings.

just to clarify, I haven't ever used perlite for brugs, just other things.

It is so intersing to read all those post.. I am going try with it with my brugs(get some cutting). It should be fun.. to make sure do I needf to mix play sand with any fertilzer or just not to mix.. leave like that? Any question.. I am new to this and would like to try lol..

one more ?? do you start *all* your brug cuttings in sand?? even hard wood and all??

tiG,
I start everything in sand but lately I have been giving the Agrogrow a try...works great on green cuttings.

Rooting in sand works very good. Dont mix it with fertilizer, Mini, the cuttings have to make roots first.
Sand and water roots differ from roots, made in soil.

Monika beat me to it, Don't mix in any fertilizer since the plant can't use it till it makes roots. Thanks Monika.

How about mixing in some peat??