Do Ya Think I figured it out?

How to keep those iochromas cuttings from rotting? WEEELLLL,

It was 80 degrees for the last few days, or low 80's and a month and a half ago, it was 97 that was the last time I tried to root some iochromas, within 2 days they were badly wilted and rotted within the week. It was so discouraging. Now, We're on day 3 , absolutely no wilt what so ever. I know i'm jumping the gun here, but I can't help but scream with excitement!!!!! Think they'll make it? I can't believe their not wilted yet. Is that all their is to it, just waiting for wonderful weather? I think there's 7 kinds of iochromas there. I will be jumpin for joy if I get them to root.

Just had to share the excitement.

I'll keep posting pics as time goes by to see if I ruined my luck here.

kathy_ann

Jumping for joy with you!!! From what I have read you are one nice lady!!

She is that for sure, BigDaddy99!! I don't have a clue what that plant is, but I think you've found the answer kathy_ann....

Well, thanks for the compliments, but there has been a time or two that I've had a vewy vewy bad attitude. But I assure you , I'm ashamed of myself!

Here's to hoping for new iochroma plants soon!!!

oh ! I forgot Sherry, Iochromas are in the brugmansia family. Very new plant! Their suppose to be easy to propigate like the brugmansia is, but they aren't anything like them. I'm hoping the cooler weather will give me some good luck. They are hard to come by these days.

They look real good Kathy.
Try this place , they always have some.
http://www.kartuz.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=KG&Category_Code=7RFPJ

LOL, that 's where I got all mine from last year. though they were only about 2 in tall when I received them LOL.

I just mentioned that their hard to find, meaning only a few places on line have them for sale. Kartuz being number one of course.

Yeah, What ever ya do don't look for them on ebay .

You'll prolly see that word "RARE" which means pay more than it's worth.

I drove up to Kartuz a couple years ago to pick up some brugs. He had a big sanguinea in bloom there. Red/orange with a touch of yellow. They aren't supposed to like heat, and his area gets as hot as mine. Should have asked him his secrets of keeping it happy.
Mary

Yes you should have, I've never traded or bought for one since I heard that they don't like the heat, or rather they won't bloom in the heat.
not sure which.

yes, scooter, they do sell for quite a penny on ebay. But not as high as they use to be. You can get the royal blue and grandiflora decently priced on ebay.

Here's to future dreams! To selling a brug on ebay and making $300 off it. Wouldn't that be grand! LOL

Good luck with them Kathy Ann. Hope they grow for you.

Good for you Kathy_ann! They look great!
When I took Iochroma cuttings a couple of weeks ago, I just stuck them in damp vermiculite and set in the shade. I did not even cover them because I had very low expectations after some of the things I read about how hard to impossible these were to root. I kept the vermiculite wet when I did my regular watering every other day, other then that I ignored them. I checked on Friday & they are rooted. Never had wilt OR leaves fall off! I was shocked, needless to say!
Oh, and like you, we have been in the 80's to low 90's temp-wise.

I had also read that Iochroma was the "new" name for Acnistus, but I am growing acnistus from seed, and there is no comparison on the plant. The acnistus is very hairy ALL over, bristly actually, and the leaves are long slender spears. I am curious what the flowers will look like. But 2 completely different plants for sure.

I'v e not heard of Acnistus I'll hav eto check that out. I've been searching for folks who've had good luck rooting the iochromas, Everybody seems to be having trouble. Looks like you got it down pat . I really think I just lucked out, and the temperature had alot to do with it as well. Heat has been tremendous here, our watermelons cooked from the inside this summer, and theyweren't even ripe enough to pick. We lost most of them to that. and we watered very well this year. it was just a really bad summer.


I'll have to try the vermiculite, I've read bad things of that stuff. But don't they make it now that's asbestus free (spelling)?

I had heard that about the vermiculite too and I found a gov page that told the brands that still use the type that has asbestos in it. The one I used did not. I will see if I can find the page again.

That would be great, I'd like to find some without it in there.

I have a few cuttings of Iochrma's in water....and all are rooting fine. I haven't tried the other way. I'm very new at propagating....so I just might have beginners luck LOL! Good luck with yours!

GREAT job Kathy.

Beginners luck lisamr isn't anything to sneeze at. It sounds like you are doing a good job.

Thanks...it's coming from my 'new love' of brugmansia's. I've had these Iochroma's since Feb 05...planted them in March 05...killed them in June 05...accidentally brought them back in July 05 (was put in the plant trash pile next to sprinklers....next thing I knew they were coming back in full force) LOL Anyhoo...I'm chalkin it up for experience...since I have no expertise in planting...other than what I learn from bumbling around with my own plants LOL

Sad though...that I even have a dead plant pile...small pile but nonetheless...sad! :-(

lisamr we all have them kind of piles. I have read a lot of threads where people have thrown there brugs in the compost pile, because they were dead, and low and behold they find them growing later on.

That's great Lisa, I've never been able to root them in water. Don't know why, they just rot. I was really getting frustrated LOL


kathy

I really hope your successful! They look very beautiful and they look like they have a great headstart for size! Which ones did you propagate?

OK, Ive been looking for a picture of the iochromas and cant find one..Kathy can you send me a good picture ?....

I am trying cuttings of my red in different situations. I did all mine by rooting in water last year with great success.

Juttz here is a of Red fush.

Juttz,
here is a link to google image search:
http://images.google.com/images?q=iochroma&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images
you will also find some in the PlantFiles

I sent you an email Juttz, dot that iochroma is looking good.

I just went and checked my babies, and Man I need a new thermometer out there, it reads ll0 and Iknow it's not that hot out there. I should quit buying walmart junk and just buy a good one. But then again, I wouldn't be able to do anything about the heat out there, so why waste my money trying to figure out how hot it is out there. It's just hot that's all I know. Not at all like it was the other day, and I knew it was too good to be true, that we'd get hot again. The darned indigo iochromas have turned over wilting now. Only two have turned their heads down in shame. The rest are still standing, but it was the sky king and indigo I was having trouble rooting. I don't have too much trouble at all with the grandiflora and royal blue.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed here. I so wish I could root in water. I don't know why they keep rotting, my mother plants aren't big enough to take cuttings off of to have them all die on me. LOL I've been chopping on them their whole lives.

What do you all put in the water when you root in water?

kathy_ann

This is indigo and grandiflora

The top one, I can't remember which one it is, I forgot to write the name on the picture. The plant is labeled, but I"ve chopped on it so much that I don't know which it is now LOL the bottom is sky king when it was just a baby .

Kathy, looks like Im going to have to find myself some of these plants..they are gorgeous....thanks for everybody helping me see what they look like....Judy

Well, take my advice and go see Kartuz. web site listed above, tis where I got mine, and I did ask them, "they are traveling far and I'd like to get healthy taller than 2 in plants, and they did send me 3 to 6 in plants and I was very pleased with them, " you don't ask, they won't send, they have a tendancy to send little tiny 2 in plants, that often don't make it, but they are indeed the best selection of iochromas around. Shippng was decent priced too.

see ya

kathy

I love Kartuz's. That's where I ordered all my Iochroma's from. I'm about ready to order more stuff....I think they are reasonably priced...not to mention shipping is reasonable too....compared to most places. CA...shipping is always expensive. Some places won't even ship to CA :-(. I was going to drive to Kartuz's.....until I found out it was about 10-12 hours away!! LOL

Kathy_ann....I just use tap water. I set it out about 24 hours before I cut any pieces of the plant off. We have floride and other stuff in our water....so I was told to let it set out so that the chlorine could evaporate. I have them sitting in water on my kitchen windowsill....they get morning sun and afternoon shade (bright). So far...so good!