Need help with my H. obscura cutting

I bought a H. obscura cutting a couple of months ago. It was lovely and healthy. I put it in a ziploc bag and it grew some nice roots so I potted it up and placed it on my heat mat with all the other new cuttings. It started to wilt. I thought it needed more humidity so I put a bag over top of it. It got worse and started dropping its leaves. I took it out of the pot and found that most of the stems had rotted. I cut the rotted parts off and put it back in a ziploc bag. It seems to have recovered and is starting to put out a new root.

I’m not sure how to proceed. I don’t have much of the cutting left and I really don’t want to lose it. I read on one of the threads that they rot easily. I’m wondering if I should put some sphagnum moss in a pot and anchor the cutting on the top with a bit of moss over the root. I understand that moss has antibacterial properties so I thought it might help to keep the cutting from rotting again. I won’t put a bag over top so it will have lots of air circulation. I have some rooting gel that has an antibacterial agent in it. Should I put some of that on it? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Here’s what’s left of the cutting.

Sandy

Sandy, I can not help you on what to do ,but if you do lose it remind me in the spring and I will send you a cut from my plant....Now lets hope mine does not get sick ....Sandyc

I would remove the bottom two leaves. Dip the bottom node in some root starter and push it down into a pot of very light mix. Make sure you get the bottom node with root starter underneath the soil line. Baggie the whole pot for a week to 10 days and pray. Don't you just hate that?

By the way, I got a very small cutting of H. obscura a couple of years ago. It was very slow to put out new leaves and grow. I swear it didn't get a new leaf for 6 months. I repotted it into a lighter soil mix and it took off like crazy, doubling in size in about 3 months.

Edited for bad spelling!

This message was edited Nov 24, 2005 6:30 PM

Oh no.... Wow there is not much left of it.. I just cut and started some of my obscura. Oh I hope it doesn't die :(. I don't know what you should do. I would try maybe cutting the bottom two leaves off and plantng it up to the next set, and keep your fingers crossed!! Looks like SandyC can fix you all up to try again. Oh gosh I'm going to have to go find the thread on this one and it rotting. Darn it.. Sorry not much help.
Tami

Crossing fingers and toes for you Sandy.

Thank you for your kind offer Sandy. It's nice to think I have a backup if I fail. I must admit that I'm not feeling very confident at the moment.

NightBloomer54, what do you mean by a light mix? I'm using a peat based potting mix with lots of perlite, sand and Schultz Orchid mix added in. The first time I potted it I took off the bottom leaves and put soil up past the bottom node. It had roots so the only thing I did differently is not put any rooting gel on it.

Good luck with yours Tami. I hope the plant you cut the piece off is in good health.

Sandy

Hmmmm. Perhaps the peat gets too soggy? Can you grab a handful of your wet mix and squeeze it really hard....and when you open your hand, it falls apart? Obscura does like water....perhaps it got too cold?...ah, not on a heat mat...gee...hard to say. Sometimes poop happens.... It loos good now. Laying it on top of Spagnum is an option, but not with moss on top...just weight it down with some rocks.

HTH

I got nothing, maybe try rooting it this time in some water. Wouldn't hurt to try something different. I don't have a big obscura, but I would be willing to send you a cutting of mine in the spring also, if this last attempt fails. I do know they take a long time to root. I waited for one from Kartuz's for over two months, in the summer. It is cool! Good luck!
-Heather

I appreciate everyone's thoughts and suggestions. I just love knowing that I can come here and get support, help and encouragement from a wonderful group of people. Thank you so much.

Sandy