smallest cutting bit the dust (altho I still have it in water just hoping....) Bigger cutting lost what leaves it came with and looks a tab limp. Am I having rotten luck or what? sob sob
Maya variegation field test - NE Illinois
Will both of my cuttings got mushy on the ends, so I trimmed them up and put some rooting hormone on them and put them in some soil and back under the lights. I'm not doing to good with mine. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this will work. PLEASE PLEASE.
Linda
If the cuttings were mine, and if I was having trouble, I'd set up a small bubbler system, which has been the most reliable procedure I have tried. I will admit that I've not had any trouble rooting in soil or into the ground, but I do use Root Tone or one of the other rooting powders. Good luck, I hope something helps!!!!!
Wow, I'm sorry to hear we're having casualties out there :(
Maybe there is something to the bubbler. Thats what I did with mine and it was the first time I had tried it. Otherwise, I would've been in the dump/replace water every day mode.
If I hadn't tried the bubbler, I probably would've done one of them like I normally do cuttings with remove some bark, dust with rooting hormone, pot in damp sterile mix and cover with an inverted soda bottle. But with only two I dreaded the thought of having a fungus among us and losing one. I guess I'm less than pristine in my propagation methods and feed the fuzzy grey stuff 20-30% of the time. ;)
I'm pulling for you!!
I'm going to pot up another size today since the roots are coming out the drain holes as shown in the next shot. I'm debating on whether to move them to the greenhouse or not. I'd hate to set back the growth. Plus, I got whiteflys from cuttings I got from 'someone' and they were on the first plants I moved out. Guess I'll wait for awhile.
These are the roots out of the taller pot.
Looking good, Blaine
Blaine, they look wonderful, looks like you have the magic touch, to go right along with that magic zone 5a - with that combination, it looks like you are on your way to a fun growing season...
You've got to be #1 - they look wonderful.
I totally 2nd that emotion lol...you've got to have the touch Blaine!
Thanks all but it's probably beginner's luck.
Ok - here's the kicker.
In the first pic today, on the plant on the right there "was" a branch sticking out. Since I've got nice foliage from the base.... I sliced it off and threw it in the bubbler.
Should it root, I figure it should go to a field tester that's lost one.
Somebody raise their hand, quick like. :)
Put there name in a hat and draw.
Terrific, Blaine!!!
Linda - you were "mushy squared" 12 days ago. What's your status now? Perhaps you should shoot me an addy, I think you've won. pollygardening/sarv48 didn't pipe up.
woo-hoooo, DHL should be delivering my Snowbank this afternoon!
Lucky, Blaine!!!
8ftbed the one that was getting real mushy is a goner. The other one, maybe is going to make it, it looks like the leaves is starting to get a little bigger. I can't believe I won something. LOL
You have mail.
I hate to pipe up as I have had dismal luck - smallest cutting croaked pronto. Bigger one is all wimped over and limp, but not mushy - lost what leaves it had. If there is another one, I will be on my knees being thankful!! I honestly did try my best to make them live.... sobbbbbb
Could you toss my name into the pot??? pleaseee
Roots have reached the drain holes again since they're last repot 10 days ago.
I'm potting up to a bigger size and moving out to the lower shelf in the HH this afternoon.
The side branch cut off 10 days ago has a little bit of new growth at the tip. This one has been slow to root. A couple of lenticels are just becoming visible.
Blaine,
I'm totatly proud of you, you've done a great job with this experiment. Definetely got that magic green thumb :)
I wish I could report change on cutting B...but there is none. I have no clue why it wants to grow so slow. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've fed it, pampered it, and it just sits there. lol! Like it's staring at me like I'm an idiot...watch one day it'll take off and I won't be able to stop it lol! BUT I won't hold my breath either! It's struggling, so I'm really leary of watering it due to the shrivel I'm seeing that little cuttings sometimes get.
Julie
Julie, Maya must not like Georgia. LOL Just kidding. I sent a cutting to another memember in Ga. tow years ago and she says hers grows slow. It grows great here.
LOL must be Ada! rofl! Makes me sick though :-(
Wow, they look fantastic. I was tickled pink when mine didnt just keel over the moment i looked at them.
lol Dravencat!!! They must have liked how you looked :) lololol! These are just not co-operating with me at this point lol...
Where have you got yours Julie?
So far, mine have been shoved up under fluorescents in the guest room and then in the basement. The last 10 days in slightly larger pots they moved to another shelf that gets morning light through the lexican covering the window wells. I repotted before I left this morning and watered again but am leaving them in the basement under fluorescents and yet another location that also gets windowell light.
Everytime I water inside, it's with fert and in aquarium water. Thats probably helping the push. I've been using this stuff I had from Stein's nursery 15-35-15 and just throw several scoops in the five gal bucket I drain from the aquarium each time. Yeah, it may be "blue water" but everything seems satisfied with it.
btw, I just took 7 more of the seedlings from the seeds you sent me. I think I've got 9 or 10 and them little rascals are going to need repotted already.
This message was edited Apr 27, 2005 9:28 AM
What a good job you are doing looking after your babies, Blaine! Growing like a weed. Luv the coloring of the variegation. I'll have to find myself a baby or seeds.
:) Donna
I need an aquarium. Blue is a pretty color maybe that's there favorite color.
Way Cool Blaine! I used to have huge tanks for fish but had to get rid of them when I moved :(
Sounds like they like what you're doing. I have them out in the garage, they get the same light as they would under a grow-lite. So you're watering them from the bottom? This is a great way to do it also, probably keeps them from those darned knats on the top of them. Gonna try this too. Thanks for the nudge lol...I need it lately after falling off my rocker LOL! Maybe I got alittle case of amnesia? lol
Maybe I'll repot it in a smaller pot?? lol
Don't forget to post some pics for me and let me see what they look like (the seeds) :)
Julie
Well, sad to report that Maya does not want to root for me. I only tried the water, changed it daily, tiniest one dies right away, the second one started getting a few tiny leaves but the shriveled up. It does not seem to form the tiny buds like other brug cutings.
Oh well, I did get a varigated Miner's Claim so will have to be content with that. Thanks for letting me try though.
This message was edited Apr 27, 2005 9:07 AM
Thanks all...
Sorry to hear that Calif_Sue. Miner's Claim huh? Soon as my Maya's have any side branches or suckers big enough to cut and start... maybe we can do a side-swap.
Julie - I'll get a 'family' photo posted this afternoon. :)
I cut my mother plant back and will try to root the cuttings for those of you that lost yours. She is such a pretty brug!! I kind of got carried away. LOL. But I cut the roots back by more than 1/2.
You guys are having way too much fun here, bubblers? Ok back to Walmart, sigh!
Wow, Blaine, I am so impressed with how well you have grown your cuttings. There definitely must something to using the bubbler. I will have to get one.
Of my two cuttings, one got mushy. I cut off the mush, sang to it, even considered aromatherapy, but alas, she did not make it. The second is hanging on. It has a few small nubbies, but looks like it it's may be getting a bit mushy, too. Should I give it a clean trim, or plant it up and put in a plastic bag?
All the cuttings I've started with air have a direct view through the window to the compost pile. I casually mention it every morning when I check on vibrating cuttings and feed the fish. :)
I can only tell you what I would do or did. With my Maya's, I potted them as soon as the nubs were spikey. I didn't wait for actualy roots to develop. But when the nubs were spikey, I knew the roots were going to start extending and I wanted them to go right into potting soil. There IS a difference between roots developed in water and roots thats developed in the dark and pushing through solid matter.
So with your remaining one, if the bottom tip really is rotting but you have lenticels above, then I'd probably slice off just the rot and pot it up. Unless you've got top growth I wouldn't worry about bagging it either. The only reason I ever bag a cutting or put it under an inverted soda bottle (personal favorite) is if it has foliage. So I want to keep the humidity in for the leaves until roots develop to supply moisture from the potting mix.
Thanks, Blaine. It does have top growth. Also, I was reading on another thread about water quality. That made me realize that the tap water I was using on my cuttings was probably not so good - we use a water softener. Thanks for the tips, I really appreciate them.
update (without pics)
Both plants had thick, white hairy roots coming out the drain holes.
I repotted again to tall pots which I think are about 6/7 gal. They are that thick heavy plastic which some grass came in last year.
I chose the thick plastic with plans to cut out 2" holes around the size in 3 weeks and plant the pot in ground. The other will eventually be repotted to a larger container and grow there for the season.
Today the twins move to the great outdoors. They're starting to get lonely in the basement since I'm outside all the time.
Sometimes I think they're not doing anything but go back up and look at the Apr 27th pic. They're doing alright.
This message was edited May 26, 2005 6:27 AM
They look wonderful!
Mine is healthy,about a foot high, and will be repotted and placed outside this week with my other cuttings that I am keeping in plastic pots. It is not as filled in as yours! (The slugs have had a nibble or two).
Blaine I don't know what you do that is so different from the rest of us, but you really do it well. Do you have some kind of secret food you feed your babies? Let me tell you they really look great.
Nothing special unless it's that every time I water while in the house it's with aquarium water and fertilizer every time. I don't think I've ever used plain water. We'll see what happens outside. So far all but one that's already been planted outside have done fine.
What happen to the one?? I had to use neem today, mine were being used as snacks, some even looked like they were being used for Thanksgiving dinner. Hope it puts an end to it.