Starting African violet leaves with Gel 2 Root

This is very interesting and sounds fun too ! I think I will try it in the Spring !
Starting African violet leaves with Gel 2 Root
I think it would work well for suckers also !
By Jana Strathmann
http://www.africanvioletfun.com/jana/Gel2Root.html

Allison,
Very interesting... do you know what the difference is or why using the gel to root product is any different or better than not using anything ???

Have you tried it yet?

MsC

Well it says you see roots in 1-2 weeks ! I like this and also would enjoy seeing the roots in the clear gel. Even though they say plants grow faster and stronger if transfered into soil before babies appear I think I would let a few grow babies in the gel as it looks so cool. !!
I have never tried it but would like to in the Spring ! Looks like it would be good for suckers and basket babies also.
Allison

Hi
I just fount some more good info :))
gel2root allows you to grow healthy, vibrant plants from cuttings with no prior skill or experience

It's easy. It's fun. It saves money.
With , you'll get results with less effort than you ever thought possible.

Here are just some of the benefits of ...
dramatically simplifies the process for you - no need to water, feed or use rooting powder because the gel contains:
active ingredient to produce vigorous root formation
all the nutrients a plant needs to enhance production and growth of roots
the water to sustain the cutting when rooting...


creates remarkable results without mess or complication - whether you're young, mature, experienced or novice...


gives you freedom to - grow plants when you like, since allows cuttings of houseplants and softwood, under suitable conditions, to be taken all the year round


increases your level of success - the gel provides a homogeneous medium with no soil-borne pests and is designed to feed and water new plants at just the right level, all the time


fascinates developing minds - without making a mess! - Children love it as rooting systems develop before their eyes in the clear gel. And they can achieve this using clean, reliable and simple to understand materials.


helps you to pot-on your new plants successfully - When soil or compost is used for cuttings the tendency is often to remove them to see whether or not roots have formed. If they haven't, this process may, itself, prevent root development. With gel2root you can see when the roots emerge. The new young roots are provided with a full range of nutrients, formulated to ensure rapid development.

gel2root allows you to grow healthy, vibrant plants from cuttings with no prior skill or experience


This message was edited Nov 28, 2005 6:39 AM

I think I would like to try it too. Thanks Allison for the info.
Patti

I read an article in avsa mag that suggested av's do just as well on their own. In fact sometime, using a medium to help rooting actually inhibits the rooting process and it takes longer.

I started some leaves about 10 weeks ago. All those that had no rooting compound gave "birth" in 5 or 6 weeks. The others to 8 and one is just now beginning to root.

Just some thoughts

Nanna

Nanna what did you grow your's in ? Allison

I used my regular soil mix; whick is 1/2 av soil, 1/2 perlite and a little horticultural charcoal. The rooting hormone I used was a powder call TakeRoot by Schultz.

Nanna

Here is my Gel Root thread bumped it up Taz I think gel root is very interesting !

my leaves have taken so long. I think maybe I should have cut the stem shorter. I am willing to give it a try. : )

Pam I've been wanting to try it over a year when I first fount out about it and when I fount the step by step instructions and pictures in link about and also read the gel web sight I was sold ! On the web sight above also give link to CHARLEY'S AND gELL WEB SIGHT. SORRY i HAVE CRAZY KEYS LOL I was not yelling :))
If I ever get caught up I will do it log it and take picture too :)) Fun fun !

i'll add this to the sticky too (next week when I return, already made myself a note)! Thanks Ali!

I thought maybe it was in our Sticky Laurie ? The link above gives a lot of info. And step by step directions, when to buy it but also takes you direct to Gel web sight.
I thought I gave it to you though it's not in Sticky yet ?

It might be, i'm kind of sleepy from all the travelling today, so I can't access that part of my hard drive (brain) today! LOL.

Can ya see me waving at ya from Miami!

Maybe it never made it there . I'll look when I can.
If your thinking about doing a Gel root experiment I recommend che ing this link out also
http://www.africanvioletfun.com/jana/Gel2Root.html
Laruei I think not sure Rachel's web sight had this link
on her sight ?

Also the Gel Roots own web sight is another excellent read.
http://www.gel2root.com/
But By Jana Strathmann step by step, written directions you can't beat.
I meant to start my experiment the first of the year but I've been to busy shipping people plant boxes. And trans-planting hundres of babies to do so. As soon as I get everyone's boxes out I plant on doing the experiment with Gel Root with pictures :))
I borrowed this from Gel Root sight.

PS One Janets teaching thread for Gel Roots she says it's ok to use any of her information :))
Feel free to copy, post, print or share this information with whomever you wish but please list me as the source. I do not receive any compensation for any of this information. I did find another US supplier for the gel that charges more but have since lost the link. As with any changes you make, ONLY try this with a few of your leaves until you are certain that it works for you in your growing conditions.

Happy AVing!
Jana Strathmann
>>>>
What nice is she covers all suplies needed :))

Gel2Root Dispenser Bottle
1 ounce solo cups
Razor blade or Xacto knife (scissors & kitchen knives crush the cells)
Sticky Tack
Household Bleach
AV leaves
Tray with dome or cover (I found ‘Hefty EZ Foil’ pans at Wal-Mart w/ nice clear domes in assorted sizes)
Paper towels
Paper plates (or other surface to trim petioles on)
Kitchen timer (optional but helpful)
Waterproof marker
Large cup or tub (for holding bottle of gel inverted)


And Step to Step with lots of close up pictures . She even covers important
Good instructions for starting new leaves, reviving leaves you get in the mail .
How to cut a leaf before setting
These instructions would be Jelpful for someone not evening using Gel Root.
Very imformitive well put together learning Article .
Thanks. Jana Strathmann

Few things she covers :))
1. Rehydrate: If your leaves arrived my mail you may need to rehydrate them. Place each leaf into separate labeled cups or tubs and cover with tepid water. I use 1 quart of water with 1 tablespoon of sugar & 5 drops of SUPERthrive. Leave them in this solution up to 8 hours if necessary to regain firmness.
2. Disinfest/Disinfect: Prepare a 10% bleach solution by mixing 2 ¼ cups tepid water and ¼ cup of household bleach. Place each leaf into bleach solution for 3 minutes. I find that my electronic kitchen timer is very helpful with timing. Remove from bleach water & rinse well in plain tepid water.
3. Trim Petiole & Leaf: Using a Xacto knife or single edge razor blade trim petiole at a 45-degree angle about 1 to 1 ½ inches from the leaf. Also remove the upper ½ of the leaf to stimulate root production & inhibit growth of the mother leaf (there is some disagreement among growers whether this helps or not. Use your own judgment or experiment yourself). Use a protected surface such as a clean plastic cutting board or paper plate for cutting.

Oh my Bob people have used it for Strep leaves too :)) All though the few Strep leaves I've had down in soil-less mixture are growing super fast I may try Strep leaves too. Maybe even suckers though Suckers I put in 1 inch pots grow fast.
Root Gell for me would just be for fun ! Beacasue I have babies growing fast out of my ears. lol

Leaves will produce roots in 1 to 2 weeks. It is very interesting & exciting to leave the leaf in the gel & watch the babies form. However, I am finding that if you take the well-rooted leaf & plant it in your soil (before babies appear) the babies will grow stronger faster. The choice is up to you. I have also used this gel for rooting suckers with very good results. Amy has used the gel for strep leaves with good success. If rooting suckers be sure to keep the gel off leaves & only insert the very bottom of the
sucker into the gel. The gel is very thick & supports the leaf or sucker well.

This is the Gel Root I will use as some I read about were not good for pets or people skin , clothes you names it. Their both sold on Charley's.
The one I am going to use does cost a little more maybe it's sold in quarts. But it is non-toxic which means a lot to me !
GEL Dispenser, 1 qt
Qty. Price:$12.95

http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_productdetails&productid=8145

Safe and non-toxic
General Product Information:
Why gel2root works

Unique
Gel Propagation is a unique medium specifically developed for the propagation of houseplants; whether softwood cuttings, leaf cuttings or offsets are used.

Natural
GEL Propagation is homogeneous and provides the cutting with a natural chemical to promote root formation. The root-inducing factor, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), occurs naturally in plants. It initiates the cell divisions that lead to the formation of roots within the stem.
It takes at least several days for there to be enough divisions and sufficient cellular organization for a small, torpedo-shaped root to be viewed even with a microscope. Some, or even many days later, and due to cell division, cell expansion and differentiation within the new tissue, a new root becomes visible at the surface of the stem.

Learn more about this safe product
http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_productdetails&productid=8145&learnmore=1#lmore

Thanks Allison, as usual you find and give good information. I will try this stuff, when I get around to ordering it. So much to do, so little time.

well - I must admit that the two leaves I put down have not rotted nor have they rooted yet. Didn't we have another thread about this??? I can't find it.

I rooted Coleus in it and WOW!!! Ton's of roots. I'm going to try to root some more Heliotrope in it too. When I get home, I'll check the dates that I marked on the containers. One big plus is that you can see what is going on. I tried one cutting with just gel2root and one with some growth hormone. I didn't notice any difference between the two.

Coleus is an easy rooter grow like weeds down here. Cut a piece stick it in the ground water and it grows ! So maybe why it rooted faster and Av;s would be slower ?
Who was it someone else bought it ? They were going to keep us up with what they were doing and how their leaves were rooting . OK my mind is dead who was it ? Taz ?

I was going to take pictures..but I can't find the thread! Bad me.. :(

I buy ultra-fine Hydro Crystals to root mine in. It works like a charm!

where do you find that Kay?

Anita just put pictures here or start a new thread !
Kay do you have more info and pictures please ?

This is probably what kay was talking about
http://www.watercrystals.com/


I can't see why this wouldn't work and it would be cheaper

I think I am going to buy some and give it a try!

Lorry
Have you ever tried that? It looks interesting and I wonder if it would decrease the number of leaves lost to rot? Of course I know that you guys don't have that problem, but I do.
What do you think?

Oh April I have that problem and nope I have not tried it yet...at least not for this.
I have used the larger ones for other plants a while ago :) and for projects. I did order some though and will give it a try. I will keep everyone informed.
I bought the ultra fine which they said is best for this.

Makes sense. Will be axiously waiting for your results. It sounds like a good idea.

Oh and April..I ran accross another little tid bit of info that I am going to try.
One growers says to put a layer of vermiculite over the soil...it helps to keep the leaf from contacting the soil.
I am going to give that a try too :)

On of few of my last bunch I put a layer of peralite over the soil thinking along the same line.

Yup souns like the same lines :) Did it help any?

Lorry where did you buy your gel from ? I cut my stems short and stick leaf all the way down into the soil. leaves won't rot beacasue of this.
Everyone has leaves that rot. There is really no reason they rot couple here and there but any leaf an rot it happens to everyone. Now if I cover mine they'd be mush in a few hours.

hi . i just ordered the gel dispencer from charleys. hope it is as good as people say. i will let you know what heppens. wild bob

Hi Lorry,

The only problem I could foresee with the water crystals is there is no fungicide or fertilizer built in..I suppose you could add that to the crystals couldn't you?

I wonder if I should try some and then we would know.

Thanks for this idea!

Joanne

Well now you started something Lorry! There is also another product called Moisture Miser that I checked with our greenhouse here and it is 16.99 for 10 ozs.

Then I phoned a flower store and she has a product, not sure what it is called but 1 tsp to 3 cups of water is what it calls for and it is 13.99 for 100 gms....how many teaspoons in a 100 gms?

So more food for thought. When I get my wheels back I am going to buy some of both and experiment!

Joanne

Yup..I plan to ause my VF11 :) and you are right..there are not additives to them.


That sounds neat Joanne..>You will need to keep us informed :)

One thread on Gel Rooting bumping up :))

Thank You Allison!! ,This is the exact thing I was talking about. Sorry I never saw your thread on the gel before I posted my question.I must have missed seeing it as I wasn't a member of DG at the time it was originally discussed.I agree it would be very fun to try.I am very intetrested to hear if anyone has had any luck with the gel.Thanks Again Allison! Nancy