I've search and have learned that the cuttings are taken in spring and summer using rooting hormone. What they don't seem to say is if they have to be lateral shoots. Does anyone know?
Tibouchina cuttings
I don't know what you mean Liz, like only laterals can be used?
I've had success by tips, brown or green but only 1-3 sets of leaves inlcuding the leaf bud, hormones, bright indirect, and very high humidity. They wilt easy. Trim the leaves back as they are much too big for cuttings. The trick is small and humid.
Yet, Dennis, I've seen them as cuttings.....(2-4 inches, tips),......this is in a nursery!, using a rooting hormone! my girlfriend tried this and it worked...interesting??? Liz, they say, to use a sandy medium, like some people do with rose cuttings...just a suggestion! Elaine
I stuck some tip cuttings in some potting soil (with rootone) back in the fall and they are still alive. Have not pulled them out to check for roots. Will do that one day.
I trying to start some cuttings too. Mine are long and are wilting. I might try to do some small ones like gingerlily. Keep you fingers crossed.
I did some over the summer,only one made it...
vermicutite.....
I just can't understand why this one seems so testy.
Really! If they knew where they would be living they would shape up......so tell them!
LOL - Kell. I've grown these for years, thought it was really rude of them not to survive every year outside. Some years good, some years not. So brought the whole lot into the gh - they are shooting everywhere and the mother plants are blooming but an ugly shape.
vredfish,
I think mine were probably 4 -6 inches long.
I do believe you 1601, it's just mine wilted at that size, most likely because the leaves were too big. Tiny tips worked here, nothing else that I can remember. Maybe my big ones dried out or something.
I have gotten this beauty to root in June, using a rooting hormone and pumice for my medium. Cuttings were probably about 4 inches long with one set of leaves. Just keep them damp and out of the bright direct sunlight. Imagine if you had bottom heat they would really root quickly. On a trip to the Berkeley two years ago I saw lots of different things and snitched cuttings here and there and then I packed them in a cooler with wet paper towels and water and drove home.It was a complete 24 hour period before I got them stuck but I was amazed at what rooted.This was in June and I remember tibouchina was in the group. I tried distictis and that was one that was a failure.
Pumice - not sure I've seen that locally. Would cactus soil do in a pinch do you think?
Before I used pumice, I used river sand. I think I would ask at your garden center. I have seen small bags of it.