I got these lovely cuttings from Glory today (thanks Glory) and want to know why I am not supposed to use soil but use sand or perlite?? I bought some play box sand the other day and used it for some of mine, but it is hard to tell when it is wet. It also come flowing out of the bottom of the pots until I figured out I should stuff the bottom with decorative dried green moss. Also how do I know there is not salt in the sand as in ocean sand? I checked all the bags of sand and the only one that said can be used for the garden came from Monterey beaches which I know is ocean sand. Of course the reason I would not buy perlite or vermiculite was because of the cancer scare you all mentioned, and then the sand also has a cancer warning on it! Can't win! Does not seem great for play sand boxes. ALSO........... should I recut the end like I do on flowers so they can suck up more water after being out of water for 2 days in the mail??? THANK YOU!!
why sand and not soil for rooting???
Kelley, I think it is a personal preference. I am doing some cuttings in sand right now, but this is my first time using it. I've always done mine in a loose potting soil. It worked just fine. I just read that Cala does hers in sand so I thought I'd try it. I don't cut the bottoms off unless they are really limp and then I will. Haven't noticed that it really makes a difference. Others do things differently than I do, so just go for it and do what feels best to you. Just don't overwater them. Hope you are having fun with all your new brugs.
I received some cuttings from Glory about two weeks ago. I put them in water for about a week and they formed roots. Here is a link to what they looked when I potted them up.
http://davesgarden.com/showthread/266152.html
Good luck.
i would probably retrim a hair. i root everything in soil. most stuff roots fine. i just put the stuff under my oaks, they get a little direct sun shifting. i also root old garden roses this way, depending on the variety sometimes with great success. i would say do what you are comfortable with. if the cuttings are woody you can start them in soil then transfer them, i haven't done this for a year though, just throw them in pots out back.
BTW.....i root everything in at least gallon pots, up to 3 gallon pots. when they start growing they take off, and in my unscientific analysis, most brugs will be 50% bigger in 2 months if started in 3 gallon rather than 1 gallon. smaller pots....they just aren't gonna grow that fast and it's possible to shock them moving them up gradually. this is probably THE most important thing to do, IS ROOT IN BIG POTS!
This message was edited Thursday, Jun 13th 10:04 PM
Arlene...........even little cuttings like 3 inches? I should pot up in big pots???
I think i read somewhere from Monika that the roots grown in soil are different.
Also someone, maybe Cala, said somewhere that you should use a razor to take cuttings. Cala why?? Do clippers damage the open end so it can't suck up water as well?
thanks all
This message was edited Thursday, Jun 13th 10:48 PM
I use water...or vermiculite that is finely milled as is used for seed starting.it stays moist and they root quick.Even tiny cuttings.
When they have rooted in vermiculite or sand for that matter, Eclipse, how do you get them out of the vermiculite to transfer to dirt without breaking their little roots?thanks
Kell, it's up to you. that's just what i do. green cuttings will rot in water, at least they do for me. and the hard to root ones too. not to say someday might not stick a woody cutting in water. i haven't rooted that many, maybe 200 in the last year.
something else to think about, cuttings with some leaves will root faster than cuttings with no leaves. if a cutting has too many leaves it'll get stressed and die. i've had some cuttings with no leaves thought would never root, but they do. when rooting in soil the main thing is not to over water. too much water is the biggest killer of brugs rooting in soil.
if i were you i'd just pretty much do them like you do anything else, most kinds are pretty hardy, and then when you have cuttings in the fall play with different methods.
Cala is a pro, she can take a small cutting and make many out of them.
Kell, I use a razor because scissors or clippers mash the ends of the plant and burst cells. I use a sharp razor, the disposable kind with an orange handle. They are easy to disinfect or you can toss after a few uses.
I use fine milled vermiculite, sand or a combination of the two. I dampen the vermiculite BEFORE using it to keep from breathing the dust.(just in case). I use pop bottle bottoms with a teeny slit in the bottom. It takes practice to know how much water to add.
I've also rooted in potting mix. The most important thing is to be sure everything is clean.
Seems like the bigger the cutting, the tougher it is. I've rooted the 1mm tip cuttings, those were something else!! Sometimes even when you do everything right the cutting will still rot. Sometimes I've just stuck pieces of branches into pots with old dirt sitting in the morning sun and couldn't believe they rooted!!
i've stuck cuttings straight in the ground and they have rooted too, not baby ones.
Just thought I'd put in my two cents' worth---nothing roots in sand for me. I always use potting soil, or root in water. And I usually do take e thin slice off the end of cuttings I get thru the mai, just to make sure all the waterways are fully open. I kill a few, but most of mine root now. Unless they're a 'Species' or an EP, LOL!
My two cents worth.I use Miracle Grow potting soil.Have used sand and soil with pretty good success but the MG stuff is cleaner and the cuttings aren't subject to the bacteria and fungus found in soil.There is the small amount of fertilizer to help with new growth.