Rooting hibiscus

What is the best way to root hibiscus? I have 5 hardy plants and would love to try my hand at rooting. Also, does anyone know any places to purchase cuttings or rootings? thanks. I am kind of new to hibiscus. Carol

I've tried and been very successful with 2 different ways of rooting hibiscus cuttings.

One way is simply sticking the cutting in a glass of water in bright, indirect light and waiting.

The other is to put soil in a gal or 2 gal ziplock bag, stick the cutting in the siol, firm the soil up around the cutting, water it sparingly, zip the baggie shut and put it in bright, indirect light.

My cuttings are always terminal growth and range from green to hardwood, but I prefer green or semi-hardwood.

HTH,

Donna

wow dstartz, that sounds simple enough maybe even I could get it right.... I think I'll try it.... I'm always trimming up a broken branch here and there so I'm not out anything ....... and I really love my hibiscus

Does this method also work for tropicals?

Especially for tropicals!

Donna, I am going to give this a go, but had a couple questions if you don't mind:

is sitting it in a window bright indirect light?

how long does it usually take to root and do I ever add more water?

One of mine is patented, am I allowed to trade cuttings or rootings? It says on the tag 'propagation restricted' so I was hoping that meant I just couldn't sell them, since it doesn't say prohibited.

Thanks! Rachel

is sitting it in a window bright indirect light?

Yes

how long does it usually take to root and do I ever add more water?

Anywhere from 7 days to 7 months (really, 7 months)

One of mine is patented, am I allowed to trade cuttings or rootings? It says on the tag 'propagation restricted' so I was hoping that meant I just couldn't sell them, since it doesn't say prohibited.

The right answer is 'No'.

Thanks Donna. I guess I need to try something faster for the NC roundup, but I will give this a try just in case I get lucky.

And thanks for this info on rooting them, I'd hate to have to tell the other prisoner's I was sent up the river on a hibiscus morals charge:)

Rachel

ROTFL

I think it's only a fine. ;->



This message was edited Jul 9, 2005 1:54 AM

I'm curious butterqueen..... what is the name of the one you have that is patented..... ?

My Blue Satins are the ones that say I can't propagate them. The name Blue Satin is registered and the common name (?) Marina says ppaf after it.

here's a pic of one of them:

Registered and Trademark means you can't propagate it and sell it as 'Blue Satin'. It's when it's patented that you aren't suppose to do any propagating without propagation rights. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_plants_propagation/article/0,1785,HGTV_3611_1397126,00.html

Yesterday, on te way home from church, I visited with a guy selling plants at a flea mkt, and also works for a wholesale nursery in the Corpus area, who said as long as you're not selling it and/or not a commercial grower you don't have to worry about any of it.

Thanks for the info dstartz and butterqueen..... It is pretty ...... let us know if we can persuade you with a trade..... now that we know we won't have to come up with a defense fund if you're found out by the cops

I have some Yellow Hibiscus that I started from seed. Can anyone tell me when I should pot them up and how fast they will grow? Didn't know if they would flower this year or if I need to keep them potted on the porch...Thanks,
Janet

Check for roots in the bottom of the container, Janet. Once you see roots there you'll know it's time to move them up to a larger container.

There's a good chance they'll bloom this year.

Okay, should I put them in a container or outside in the garden? Thanks Alice!

Depends on the type of soil you have, their size right now, yada, yada, yada. Do you feel they would do well if you put them in the ground now?

Personally, I like to have mine growing in a gallon container for a while before I put them into the ground, but that's just me.

Donna

I think maybe pots for now and then the garden. Also, wondering if you have ever had black spots on your hydrangea leafs? I have one that has spots on the leaves and am not sure if I need to treat it with something, or if that is normal for hydrangea? Any ideas? Thanks, Donna! Didn't realize I called you Alice before..sorry about that...LOL

Hi Carol.
I've found a fairly new product named "Rapid Rooter's" and IMO, they6're nothing short of miraculous. I just learned about them early this spring and I took cuttings of everything I could think of to try to test them and see what plants wouldn't work in them...Well EVERYTHING has rooted in them. I had 1 double red tropical and 1 red tropical bush so I took 5 cuts off each one and all ten rooted in about 2 weeks. I should clarify that a little better, they showed some roots in less than 2 weeks but not quite rooted well enough to where I felt comfortable to pot them up. This picture is at roughly 4 1/2 weeks along and ready to pot up or put anywhere.

Here is another picture of the same 2 cuttings. When I cut them, there were only 2 leaves per cut at the only 2 nodes above the cubes. You can see all the new growth that is much more pale in color. They haven't been fed at all, they've been sitting in the tray with a little water in the bottom to try to get the roots to "reach" down for it.
The other cuttings are atleast twice this size planted in my nieghbor's yard.

Here is a picture of a tray with a few cuttings in it and they're less than 1 week along. Most are Passiflora's with the hibiscus on the right.

Here is a picture of the same tray taken today, the cuts are roughly 4 1/2 weeks along like I said above.
I've always had pretty good luck in the past rooting cuts in a different brand of cubes and I use "Clonex" gel rooting hormone. Since finding these new cubes, I'm batting 100% for the first time ever. I think the cuts would be even further along if I could of kept them indoors and under my grow lights with optimum temps and other conditions. I've kept this tray outdoors in the 90F heat and trying to keep them out of direct sunlight. They spent the 1st few weeks under a humidity dome too, that is a must IMO to keep them from wilting away right off. Here is a link that describes all about the cubes, the second link shows a picture of the humidity domes I use. They fit perfectly on top of the trays and you could literally root 50 cuts in 1 tray at the same time.
http://www.genhydro.com/genhydro_US/rapidrooter2.html
http://www.greenandclean.ca/id262.htm
I'm taking another tray to fill up with hardy hibiscus for trading here. I'll keep you posted on those if you like.
Good luck!
JD

Oops, I forgot the picture. I accidently have the tray backwards compared to the first picture.

wow JDL that is very inspiring, I want to give it a try too!

vs, I will d-mail you when I have roots on my cuttings and thanks for even considering helping with a defense fund LOL

Rachel

Thank you guys for new info on rooting.Where does one find rapid rooters? I have been out of commission for awhile, look forward to getting bsck involved. /thanks, Carol (nancyjean)

http://www.genhydro.com/genhydro_US/rapidrooter2.html
This link will help you find a local vendor.
I had my first fatalities with rapid rooters this week darnit. I left the tray outdoors with the dome on. You'd think they'd be fine in the shade but not so. I lost about 5% and the others got pretty wilty. They have since perked back up after loosing a little foliage. I'm at the 1 week mark today and I see 2 cubes are showing tiny root hairs! WOOHOO!
JD