Just got done checking the cuttings Carol sent me and they are starting to get little roots at the nodes! I am so excited, because it has only been a little over a week since I potted them up. I have been trying to root a H. multiflora for over a month in water and all I get is flowers, no roots!
This is the set up I have used for Carol's cuttings: I had an extra 20 gallon aquarium sitting around with a florescent light and hood, so I decided to use it as my "incubator" for the little hoyas. After soaking them in water with superthrive, I put 2 node cuttings in perlite in clear plastic cups with holes melted in the bottom and sides. I put them in the aquarium along with a large mason jar filled with water. In the mason jar I put a large aquarium heater which heated the water in the jar to about 85 degrees. I put the aquarium hood and light on top and have been leaving the light on 24 hours.
The interior of the aquarium stays about 78 degrees with lots of humidity. So far I have only lost one leaf and I don't see any mold. I periodically open the hood and let some of the humidity escape. There is about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of the aquarium where the cups are sitting... I am SO EXCITED! Sure hope this continues to work out and nothing rots...
Question: Since the plants are only in perlite, when should I start fertilizing? Or should I pot them up in other medium...if so, when?
thanks,
Sue
WooHoo!!!! I'm getting roots!!!!
I, personally, would wait until the roots are maybe an inch long...or you start getting new growth. Then I would put them in their 'grown-up pots'. Since I am a dolt when it comes to rooting in water...I am not good about the fertilizing question...but after my cuttings are in a pot for about 1.5 weeks, I water with about 1/4 strength fertilizer...very gentle and mild.
Your system sounds GREAT!
Sue - your system sounds really nice, and congrats on the roots! I used the "greenhouse from a roaster with heating pad" method, and mine rooted, too. I took them out of that set-up yesterday, and have them in front of a window, breathing on their own! All of them had little bitty roots, some had new growth. All but one of the vines had roots, too - used the baggy method on those. I'm so excited! Karen
By the way, does anyone think I took them out too early? They all have roots, and I am afraid of mold....
This message was edited Oct 25, 2005 7:15 AM
Just don't overpot them when you pot them up in soil. That was one of my mistakes at first. Just pot them up in something the same size as your little cups or something similar. The plant hasn't fot enough strength to fill a large container with roots yet so it is easy to overwater if you put them into too big a container.
You also still need to keep them fairly humid so they don't dry out too fast. I usually move them into the Big Lots greenhouse from the rooting aquarium.
Marcy
Thanks, I guess I'll give them a little more time before I start moving and fertilizing them...
Keeping my fingers crossed!!!!
Sue
Air circulation will help prevent mold growing on the soil...gentle air, not a fan blast. Also concur with Marcy about not keeping them too wet...let the roots 'search' for nutrients/water. If it gets cooler at night, don't water them late in the day unless they are on a heat mat.... Really hard to kill these puppies!!!
Carol