best way to propagate "clerodendrum ugandense"

Any suggestions on the best way to propagate this Blue Glorybower? I "liberated" a cutting about 10 inches long. So far I have it in water in my North facing but bright garden window. I removed the bottom half of the leaves. Someone said it would slowly form roots. Found a Google source that said to root in sand. Any help would be great. My wife, who endures my mania for plant$, likes this one a lot, so I'd like to have one for her!

I don't know about your particular one, but I have Clerodendrum indicum and it gets seeds about this time of year. They had excellent germination and bloomed in 2nd year. .. .

Don't know if ugandense has seeds or not ..

good luck!

Onalee

I did a couple earlier in the summer and had good luck just doing a tip cutting six -8 inches long, strip bottom leaves apply rooting hormone and stick in potting soil. I covered mine with plastic baggie but it was hot & dry here then so you may not need to? Couldn't hurt though.

They are pretty easy as far as getting cuttings to take.

MsC

Onalee,
How did you sow your indicum seeds and did you remove the covering first, pre soak, etc.
I've never gotten mine to grow from seed.
Jan...

I'm going to try to room cuttings of mine now that I have a clue LOL thanks!

Joseph

oops typo on my last message. I meant I was going to ROOT cuttings not room them! LOL

I have had success rooting cuttings of this plant using the rooting gel you can buy commercially. The cuttings rooted in about a week, very nicely too, as do Brugmansia cuttings do in water (white bumps on stems giving rise to roots).

Joseph

Joseph,

So you dip the cuttings in the gel, and then put them into water to root. Or??? Maybe in vermiculite with water?

Hi Onalee,
I sowed some seeds and have a nice flat of seedlings starting.
Thanks.

I bought a quart of this gel and squirted a bunch of it into a clear jar, like a clean peanut butter jar, then I put some saran wrap over the top of the jar and secured the plastic with a rubber band around the jar. Then I cut the cuttings, took all the leaves off the lower end of the stem (that will go into the gel), and I gently wounded the cut end a little with the end of the scissors. I then took a chopstick and punched a small hole in the saran wrap and then inserted the cutting into the hole and pushed it down into the gel. That is where I left the cutting until it sent out roots. It's very easy process. I'm on a second wave of cuttings with this one batch of gel. I hope the rooting hormone in the gel hasn't broken down by now.

LMK if I can help more. This gel stuff is great for this plant...have had no success with Salvia microphylla "Hot Lips" yet but will keep trying to propagate that beauty.

Joseph


This message was edited Feb 18, 2005 12:34 PM

Have a brand name for the gel? Maybe I'll try it in a small slender jar. Use less gel that way. Rx bottles maybe? Does the cutting need light to make roots? I'd think not since in nature they are underground...

I'll get back with you on the name brand. I think it matters not about light, except you have to keep it out of sunlight or the hormone would break down. I used a clear bottle so I could watch the action! LOL You would need to use a stout enough bottle so it wouldn't fall over.

re: "You would need to use a stout enough bottle so it wouldn't fall over."

...well, this is CA, blue as we are! But so far gravity seems to be working well enuf! I'm sure I'll find something!

The brand name of the gel is "Mr. Fothergill's gel2root" I bought the 1 litre dispenser. The front label panel has the title "The Complete Gel for Rooting Cuttings". I purchased them from Charley's Greehouses but I'm sure you can get it other places if you google around.