Can I take greenwood cuttings?new growth?If so how do I start them.Thanks,Jody
Need help with cuttings
Jody, it is best if you get at least semi hardwood or hardwood. The greenwood cuttings tend to rot easily. Some people start the more woody cuttings in water and others use damp soil. I've had some luck with water this year, but get the best results with just soil. I only wet the soil and let it drain well, poke a hole in it and stick the cutting in. Some use rooting hormone...I don't find it necessary. If you use water, make sure to watch them close for rot and always keep the water clean. I hope this helps you some.
Very good Brugie. That is what I would have told her. Now aren't you happy that I agree with you? :)
Darn, I should have waited a while and let you do the typing. LOL!
Thank-you I was hoping to root the green wood.darnit
Jody
Try rooting it Jody. I usually get green wood to root. Just do not overwater! And if you have a node or 2, push them under the soil, even if you just have a smaller amount of the piece sticking out of the ground. This way you may get some side growth come up on its own from the soil line even if the piece rots above the soil.
If you have spring in the air, it makes it so much easier to root. Just make sure you only water when the pot is ALMOST dry. That is the biggest thing, for green rots more easily.
Good luck! Let us know.
Jody, it can be done, but it really is hard for me to do. I know people that have done it and I have too, but if you don't have cutting material to waste, I wouldn't do it. If you have plenty, give it a shot. Keep the bottom of the green cutting off the bottom of the glass of water, if you use water. I used a plastic straw and some tape to hold the straw to the cutting, but extending below the bottom of the cutting about a half inch. I hesitate to put a toothpick into something so small as a way of holding it off the glass bottom. Rooting green cuttings can be done in soil too, but put a hat on the pot so that the cutting doesn't lose moisture. You could put the pot inside a plastic bag and tie it shut until rooting takes place.
Late last Summer I was successful in rooting a large number of tip cuttings (green), and tiny green sideshoots. I used damp potting soil in 4" pots. Layed the cuttings across the soil horizontally and lightly pressed into the soil. Placed the pots in zip-lock bags and put them under fluorescent lights. I did not lose one cutting utilizing this method.
Following is a collage that I posted on another thread somewhere here. The photos on the botoom left and right were green tips. The one on the bottom center was semi-hardwood. I hope this is helpful to you.
PS They can stay in the bags a long, long time.
LOL Gretchen. Yes, I have had them in bags for over 2 months!! I put my bags under my apricot tree in the summer to root. And then I just forget about them! And they do great. Just do not be opening them all the time. It can introduce bacteria and fungus. I never open them until I am ready to take them out for good.
But to be honest, I rarely use bags anymore. I find I get about 95% success with no bags. I just watch them closely and do not over water. Though I will probably use them for red next month and I used them for RK cuttings in the winter and they did great. In the spring, things are pretty easy to root. It is the big biological push going on so I may try without them next month too!
I have little luck in water though. ROT time!! I put them in dirt most of the time!
I gotta try now,for sure.heehee
Thanks for all the great info.
If it's not hard it's no fun,right?lol.
I'll try all the different ways,to see what works best for me.
Again thanks to all of you.
Now pray for my cuttings,just kidding.
Thanks,Jody
PS Gretchen your pictures are great!!
Good luck Jody! And you are exactly right, try all methods until you get one that works for you and your climate. Let us all know how you do!
The trick I've found to rooting successfully in water is to keep the water clean and in a cool spot out of direct light.
Warm water makes algae and rotted cuttings very quickly.
Super pics Gretchen!! I don't do much right, but I've had great luck rooting everything I've tried. In the spring I root straight in the ground. In the winter, I use the bubbler system in the GH and all my green shoots have rooted without turning to mush. Well, that isn't exactly right, some have mush but rooted anyway. I stick toothpicks in to keep them off the bottom, but next time I'm just going to stick them in without doing anything and see what happens. Looks like for rooting in water, that keeping the water clear is the key...
This message was edited Feb 19, 2005 5:48 PM
Kaufmann,thanks for the photo's
Jody
Thanks, Sherry. I'm so glad you're having success!
You're so very welcome, Jody. Good luck with yours!!!
Thanks,Jody