Help with slow cutting

I've got a cutting that I got from New Orleans and unlike the rest of the set, it just hasn't put down roots. It put up a couple of leaves that are very small, and some turned black. This is a special cutting and I would like to save it. Should I pull it up and check for rot? I have potted it and watered but I am not sure why this one of the bunch isn't thriving. I would really like to save it.

Some do take longer to root than others. I've had cuttings take nearly a year to root. As long as it looks and feels firm and has a good color, it is probably fine. You can stick your fingers down just beneath the soil and feel for softness. If it feels hard, then it is just taking a little longer to root. Make sure to give it lots of bottom heat to help it root.

Some of the leaves are black and the green ones aren't growing. I wonder if its rotting and what I should do to save it.

Dang Double posts!!

This message was edited Sep 21, 2005 10:19 AM

When rooting... DONOT WATER!!... or youll be ....ROTTING......
The cutting can take up to 1 year to root.
It will use its stored energy to shoot the nubs out.
If it looks desicated soak it in Super Thrive and water for about 1 hour then put into dry medium about 1 inch deep, let it lean on the side of the pot, set it in full sun and check it everyday for rot.
I have cuttings that are viable but still havent rooted after 8 months!
Theyll come around eventually.
If you really are worried about saving it.
Send it to Luc At Florida Colors and have him graft it for you. ;)

This message was edited Sep 21, 2005 10:20 AM

Andidandi, can you post a picture of it? You should be able to tell if it is healthy or rotting by looking at it, but we can have a look and help you be able to tell. As I said in my previous post, if it is firm and has good color, it should still be healthy, but you can feel for softness below the soil line. If it feels soft and squishy below the soil line, then it is rotting.

If you want to check for roots, you can, very gently, turn the container over and let the potting soil fall into a catch bin while you hold the cutting back with your hand and then gently let the cutting come out of the container so you can see what is happening at the end of the cutting. If it is starting to root, you can repot it. If it is rotting, cut to clean white wood, dip in rooting hormone, and let the end callous over again, and then repot. Or, as Michael said, you can have it grafted if you wish. If you are going to still try to root it, bottom heat will help the process so be sure to put it on a heat mat or someplace very warm.

It's still not doing any better so I pulled it up and it looked a bit rotted at the bottom so I split it in half and put it aside. I will try to replant in a few days. Is water rooting worth a try?

andidandi, when you cut it in half, did you see pure white wood? There should be no trace of tan and no tan or cream cirlces. If so, let it heal over for a few days. You can dip it in rooting hormone now, if you wish, if you have some. Sure, you could try water rooting it if you wish. I usually only keep the cutting in water for a few days to a week until I see signs of roots, and then I put the cutting in potting soil. If you still have heat outside, I would take advantage of it while you can and pot it up in potting soil and put out on hot concrete.