Some of you more experienced growers might be able help me here. I have an Apricot Queen/Kirkbad...? growing with a big shoot coming up from the rootbase. The shoot is taller than the other portion of the plant and is growing straight up. The original cutting is now making a Y. Should I let the offshoot continue to grow and strengthen or cut it off. Its tall, but not very thick and the wood isn't hardwood. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Growing from a Y portion cutting to get a standard
Joyce, I have rooted a few of those kind this summer. I just dug down with my hand and broke the shoot off the main roots or stalk. Then took off all but two or three small leaves in the very top of it, and put put directly into moist Pro Mix and set in the shade outside. They all rooted just fine.
Joyce, I'd let it grow a bit more until it starts looking a little harder at the base and then cut it off. I've had really good luck with the tall ones, and it will get taller before it is ready. I put them in a 5 gallon bucket with about three inches of water and place under a shade tree and it doesn't take long and they are rooted and you have a good sized plant started then. Some cuttings want to curl a little when they are long, so I strap them to a piece of wood with masking tape, until they are rooted. After you plant in soil, be sure to keep in the shade until the roots take hold.
Edited to say that my way isn't the only way, so do what you feel most comfortable with.
This message was edited Saturday, Sep 28th 8:12 PM
Thanks Brugie and Owen,
The new shoot is less than an inch in diameter with no evidence yet of hardwood. I was afraid if I cut it off it wouldn't root well because despite its height which is over 2 feet its still pretty green. I'll use the stick method to keep it from curling while I root it. Thanks.
You are very welcome, Joyce. Sounds like you will definately need to put a splint on it if it is that tall and still green:) LOL
If it was from me - Apricot Q is Apricot Q. The Amarillo Paja was relabelled Kurpark Bad Salzschlirf.
Gosh Liz, how can you remember how to spell that one?
Practice Brugie, practice. LOL
Can you pronounce it??3 times fast????
KBS,KBS,KBS and I remember that by saying to myself.....Kids Being Stinkers!!
or Karyns been stupid!
or Kells being silly....
Sure beats trying to say the real name. I don't even know how to pronounce that last part. Don't want to learn either. :-)
Since I don't have anyone to practice with, I'll stick to the KBS. Might make myself look smart if I could pronounce it though. :-) Maybe I could fake it. No one would know around this town.
Liz its from the first batch that I bought...this one I believe was the one that I ordered a replacement for because it was misidentified. Its not from the second batch that I ordered from you. In future I'll check tags before I post a name so as not to cause any confusion. :-)
Then you're talking about the non Grand Marnier.
Joydie1....what I do when this happens to mine is that I let it gwow and if it gets good height then I cut off the orginal part so I have more of a tree. when you get a cutting from above the "Y" it will bloom sooner and be a shorter plant if you what the hite the new growth will give you that JMO
Pete
Ok Liz thanks...that's the one! I decided to cut off the tall growing shoot as the Y cutting has little buds now...just now checked...can hardly wait to see it flower Liz and Jeanne, the way you describe it I know its going to be very pretty!
Liz I have little buds on all of my first set of cuttings from you...lots of them will bloom soon. A couple of the second group have buds as well. Its going to be heavenly when they start blooming!!