Great Idea for a Bubbler- Under $10

I received some cuttings from someone and i needed to put together a bubbler fast. I was walking through KMART and needed dog food so i wound up in the pet supply aisle. There on the top shelf was this 1 gallon aquarium kit with pump, tubing, ledge to hold gravel above the bottom to allow for filtration of water, and air stone. What a great deal. All for $9.99. The pump alone could cost me that.

Check it out for yourselves. It works PERFECT!

"Attention Kmart shoppers...bubblers available in aisle 9!"

Here's the box

Wow, x, bubblers are getting cheaper all the time, lol!! That looks good!!

what is the advantage of using the bubbler. I am new at this.
thanks,
chris

Using a bubbler speeds up the rooting process by oxygenating the water. The oxygen keeps the water fresh for a long time as well. If you tried to root in plain water (say in a jar)the water would stagnate in a few days and you would have to keep changing the water regularly. People like to use bubblers when overwintering cuttings because they can ignore them, when placed in a basement or garage, for longer periods of time. There should be several posts in this forum describing Bubbler techniques. Do a search and I'm sure it will be explained better than i did.


This message was edited Nov 30, 2005 6:59 PM

x, is correct, chris. I live in zone 8a, and i winter my brugs in the ground, with heavy cypress mulch and take fav cuttings into my 12 x 12 GH, which gets small quickly. I like bubblers because it works, I've been able to bubbler just about everything, except the bubbler did not work well for me in the heat of the summer, even with aircon. Besides being easy/successful, I really use it to keep the brugs from getting so big in the GH, and this year, I didn't do a single cutting over about 3 or 3 1/2 feet high, and only a few of those which I will cut down when I have time. I put like cuttings in individual containers, using a number of smaller containers, rather than a couple of large ones (I use liter, gallon, clear, plastic soda/water and other bottles); however, the brugs are near each other in the GH and often they are planted beside each other, so I'm not sure if different containers keep one brug from infecting another - I've never had an infection/virus or other contagious problem, but if I ever do, it won't be because they are all in the same bubbler or because my cutters weren't clean, I clean them each time I cut down a brug (to bubbler or box size). From what I hear, it appears that gardeners in warmer zones have more difficulties rooting the 'old fashioned way', without a bubbler, using water, which is changed frequently. Gardners in cooler areas are dedicated to 'natural' rooting without a bubbler, changing water frequently. The trouble with that, here in southeast Arky is that, like today, it was 27 over night and 31 at 9am, and 77 this pm - water/brugs get slimy QUICK in temps like that, which are common here and you miss a couple of days and it's buh-bye, fav cutting, they are done. There are lots of ways to reach the same goal, and mostly it depends on what works best for the individual. Good Luck!!

that's it! i'm getting a bubbler!!!

=)))

Annapet..here we go again ..thinking alike :-)

You know while I was reading x's post I thought I will invest in one of those especially since I have several cuttings in glass jars ,change the water every day BUT now with the holidays coming upon us I don't want to forget and I rather decorate than change water.

Actually I decided to redo my small hallway before christmas and been sanding and painting the majority of the day and I wished I could have played with my cuttings and "see" my seeds grow ..LOL instead of doing that.

i was told that I should not have a community bubbler because you don't want them to infect each other by touching each other. In my case this was a mute point because all the cuttings came wrapped in one bundle so i didn't feel i would gain anything by splitting them up. Thats why they are all in one bubbler....thank goodness too because as cheap as they are I can't afford to set up 12 bubblers like some professional brug growers do.

Necessity is the mother of invention....but that mother is driven by finances.

This message was edited Nov 30, 2005 8:32 PM

Sherry,
I just got some new cuttings and I have never done this be for and sure do not want to lose these. I put them in potting soil to root log stile. I have them in the house where I can keep a close eye on them and did just what BGI said to do but they did not say what time of year to do it. Should I take them out and put them in water? Joan

x, I love it, and know exactly where you are coming from and about the ONLY reason I go to 'extremes' re the different containers, etc, is because i work from home and have the time and it's so much cheaper than showing Goldens that it's like it's free, lol! And, hey, you got them in a bundle, so why not put them in the bubbler together. Like I said, mine come outta their individual containers and are planted in the ground next door to each other, after having spent the winter in individual bubbler containers, right next door to each other. I do use food grade H202 and I do believe they root much quicker with it and it is a cleaning agent. Last year, when I knew no better and broke my ankle, my cuttings lived the winter in the same container and they were fine. I consider the H202 bubbler/GH 'protection', kinda like a flu shot.

I am a newbie, I set up my first bubbler last Dec 15/04, I've been steady bubblering ever since, I'm an instant gratification granny and plan to continue. Only 'failure' was Culebra, about three weeks ago, but she's now in rockwool and has a smidgen of green, via strong magnifying glass.

As for log cuttings, I did some summer 2005, my first, I lost a few, the ones I grew are super, I LOVE log rootings, but I'm not as good with them as I am with the bubbler, yet, I hope to improve, lol, but I really do, log cuttings are hotties, make really nice brugs!! Only reason I haven't started any yet, this fall, is because of fear of outgrowing the GH before spring. Good luck all and happy bubblering...

This message was edited Nov 30, 2005 8:35 PM

Thank you and I will get a bubbler too. Jaon

Thank you and I will get a bubbler too. Joan

Looks like we are all a bubbling. LOL. I can't find anyone in St. Louis who does Brugs. Wish all of you were closer.

Crystal

Hahahaha, there are only a couple of brugsters in all of Arky...well, that admit it, lol...

X
you seem to be really new at brugs ( or al least you come across as a newbie) , do you really believe you are qualified to give advice ? IMO


I strongly disagree. Newbies should not be experimenting with the latest fads.

They do not have enough experience and could possibly loose every single cutting to disease.

Hi there! The voice of experience here...just kidding, but I have had some experience with SB/Fusarium or Tomato Spotted Wilted Virus or both if you like! It's very sad to see for sure. However, I do root my brug cuttings year-round in glass jars with water, and I do change the water every so often or add water as the water level drops. I've left cuttings in water for as long as six months. When I trim, I stick the name of the brug on the jar, and I put a bunch of cuttings of that cultivar in the same jar. I have found that the ones with Fusarium take twice as long to root and are poor growers from the start. They are extremely slow growing and have deformed leaves. All my brugs are in close proximity by necessity, and the ones with SB/Fusarium that were tossed out surely came in contact with the others at one point or another. Thankfully, I think some cultivars are more resistant than other cultivars, and Monica has confirmed this on the SB thread. I try to stay away from B. suaveolens now since most of my B. suaveolens hybrids had SB. Anyway, it is a good idea to keep cultivars separate if you can, but it is understandable if you can't out of necessity. I think if you keep a good watch for the signs of disease/fungus, that is half the battle.

Scooterbug,
You come across pretty strongly when giving your own advice. These forums are for sharing and learning. Who are you to say "You come across as a newbie and do you feel qualifed to give advise". How nasty. I don't feel i was giving ADVICE as you so eloquently stated. I was merely sharing a current experiance hoping that it may help someone out. Believe me I did so with all the right intentions. You have a right to your opinions sure, but there is a way of saying something to a person without sounding demeaning and condescending.
So we have determined here from your bold statements that you are NOT a newbie and you feel that YOU are the one who is qualified to give advise, so be it. The word is spoken. Newbies "do not try this at home!!". Point taken.
You have your opinions and advise, which is fine. This forum is here for sharing those opinions so that if someone has made a mistake there are people here to help them, not be attacked by someone who feels they are more qualified than the others. And yes, your post came across as a personal attack.
The fact is that a bubbler is a good idea as long as they only put one variety (from the same batch) in each separate container they will be fine. We have determined that. It is excellent advise. So now a newbie knows what to do and what not to do should they decide to dabble in bubbling. I explained in the prior post my reasons for not doing it this time. I made a mistake and I'm sure I'll make more in the future, but that's that's how we learn. Getting advise from the more experinced, (but less arrogant) brug growers helps out tremendously in our endeavors to grow brugs.
So therefore a newbie now has gained some knowledge from the experiance of others and is more equipt with the tools to try such things and not make the same mistakes. We were all newbies at one point and probably lost things just by trial and error. There are several people here who posted (in a very civilized and educated manner I might add) their experiances and how even rain smeared from an infected brug and spread disease. This was good advise based on someones experiance. That advise is now being passed on to someone new to brugs so they can be spared the tradgedy of losing their collection by making the same mistake. That is what these forums are for.
Scooterbug, you may be great at raising brugs but your people skills leave plenty to be desired. Try getting out of the garden and spending some more time with people. You will find that it's not what you say to people but how it is said. Replies like yours are more likely to scare people off, stopping them from posting something in the future for fear that their inexperiance will be met with an attack. As it was in my case.
Lets keep the attitude at home and leave the forums for sharing and giving advise. People helping people correct their mistakes is what we are here for.
Your Truly,
A proud newbie







This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 4:30 AM

Well,
I AM almost afraid to ask a couple of newbie questions.

What if several cuttings are in the same water as in X's and my case ? what happens now ?

I received some great cuttings from some wonderful sharing people in the last few weeks.ALL of my larger cuttings are in individual mason/jelly jars ,filled 2 inches with fresh water EVERY DAY or every second day.
But very recently I received a bunch of small to very small green/semi hard ones and I DID put them together into a larger glass jar of water.

Even with trying to read as much about Brugmansia's as I could during the last few weeks I did not know or didn't remember that I couldn't put them together into the same container.

1.)So is there still a problem ? should I still separate them ?

2.) what is the advantage/disadvantage of sticking toothpicks into the stems ?

Thank You

Hear,Hear!
;)

Wow...

Brigitte, do not worry about it. Chances are they will be just fine. If possible I always keep them in separate containers but the truth is your brugs can catch some disease from an insect flying into your yard and a brug could get infected and spread it. Or from a plant you bring in from the nursery.

Even if you get a disease, good technique and early identification should limit its spread. Lots of people here have had "SB" now and from what I understand many had most of their brugs survive. It seems suavs and multi hybrid yellows are susceptible to it so they will probably catch it just by being in close proximity. But the others hopefully won't catch it unless you manually infect them by using contaminated clippers, contaminated hands, contaminated water or if an insect spreads it. So try to use good technique.

Also many people put the cuttings in the same water containers before sending them. I use those big 16 ounce cups. I love them. They are cheap and disposable. I can use 1 for the cuttings from each plant then toss them. I also use them instead of 4 inch pots. So easy to use then toss. I just put holes in the bottom of them fast with a knife. I also used them when I was bubbling. I put a stone in each cup. I didn't put holes in those. LOL And change the stone between batches if you can.

From my understanding, be on the watch for the tell tale lesions, and then dispose of the plant, dirt and pot also immediately. I check my bark every time I water my plants.

And of the worse happens, oh well! These are just plants. You will get more!!! It also reminds us if we have special ones that we created, we best share them fast so in case it strikes they will not be gone forever.

xeriscape8321 your set up is so neat. And a great idea for the bigger cuttings. I bet it lasts a long time too. Maybe if you put boiling water in it, it would clean it between use or even bleach water should help! Maybe bleach the tubing and the stone? Do you think it would tolerate it? No one seems to be quite sure what kills what. I wonder how long bacteria and fungus can live on a hard, dry surface?

What you might do, is on your nametag also tag them as to batch. That way if one gets into trouble, you can quick toss the others from that batch. But do not worry, I bet they all are just fine. And if not, I bet we will all get you more.

Also, if a brug comes down with this rot and you have sent out cuttings, it would be so great if you could notify the people you sent them to so they can destroy them fast too.

As for toothpicks, I understand from here it really helps with bottom rot. It holds the bottom off the bottom of the glass. I can't remember who first came up with the idea but others seem to think it works. I have used it once since I do not usually put my cuttings in water, and they didn't rot. LOL

I have quite a few cuttings going right now. Some in bubblers, others in jars of water. They are all different cultivars so I don't know if that has anything to do with it but the ones in jars form many nubbies but no roots so far and the ones in bubblers form fewer nubbies but more roots. I'll post comparisons later. Seems that the extra oxygen from the bubbles might stimulate root growth?

I want to thank all those who have sent me supportive emails!

Talk about toothpicks, I've had a tough time with them recently - the toothpicks are AWFUL, flimsy and they break at the slightest touch - I have some short fat cuttings, and I stick them, put them in the water, then they break. In my zone (8a) it doesn't take long for cuttings to get slimy when the temps are from freezing in the am, to 77+ in the pm. So, I guess I'll have to do some specialty shopping at a toothpick shop. BTW, LindaSC is the one that told me about the toothpicks, she's in my zone in SC.

LOL Sherry. The lengths we go!

Very interesting, Linda. I will be waiting for your further observations.

Glad you feel supported, xeriscape832!. Life is too short to get in a tizz over brugs.

I just got back from K-mart - bought 2 fish tanks - thanks .

LOL!!! Happy rooting...just remember the rules and you will do fine.

Hmmm...I should call Kmart and get a comission on these...lol

This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 5:43 PM

Dear X

We all just give opinions here unless directly asked for advice.

Even then it is only within our own realm of experience unless we are directly quoting someone.

I'm glad you took the advice of -you know who- and edited your post.

xeriscape8321 - I am glad that this forum is here for us to share our experiences. I love it when you and anyone else shares there experiences.

RUDE REMARKS SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED!

I certainly hope that Dave is watching this forum and that he is following those replies that certain people make to others. Not just in this thread but in other threads as well.

I am a newbie and willing to try different ways of doing things. Creative minds are what keeps this world moving on.


This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 5:32 PM

Scooterbug, the advise received from"you know who" as well as others is to ignore...which I'm doing.

Let's talk brugs everyone and drop this!!

I forgot to add that you must post a picture in about 2 weeks of your bubbler pot, Xeriscape! Since it is clear, I have no doubt we all will be so jealous of your roots, we will all run out and buy our own! Tony already did, he has faith in you!

2 weeks..you got it!! i have some specials in there like Magic Mountain , Adora and Taylor Dawn. I can't wait!!

This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 7:49 PM

X - Go to "My Brug Project" thread and check out the very last photo's that I posted today. The roots are from only 10 days in the bubbler. They are kind of gross - so beware. LOL

I just posted these pics on another thread, but I'll post them here too since we're talking about the subject. These are some cuttings of Isabella which I stuck in glass jars on my back patio. I refill the water from time to time and change it every so often.

Here is another glass jar with some cuttings of Solid Gold. You may notice that there is some algae build up, but that is nothing to worry about. It won't harm anything and may even provide some nutrition. I will rinse out the algae from time to time and fill the jar with fresh water. I've left cuttings in jars like this for a long, long time, and they do just fine.

You must have good water, Clare. Mine usually rot in water. We have that additive that kills fish. Do you have that stuff too? Anyway, I blame that stuff totally, that is my story and I am sticking to it.

I keep meaning to try distilled water. I am also going to try to do it outside where it is cooler. And use the toothpick and use the hydrogen pyroxide and the bubbler. LOL We are getting so high tech here.

Kell,

Tell me more about the hydrogen peroxide and how you use it.

Lots of good information here. I also have had good luck rooting in jars. Many cuttings start out in old blue canning jars. Seems that they root quicker in the colored glass but don't know for sure. In the winter I set the jars on a warming pad (NOT HOT). Big cuttings just get dumped in a bucket until spring. I change the water when I think about it. Not telling anybody to do this. I have just been lucky.

I have spring water for the greenhouse. I think that it may help to not have all of the chemicals in the water, but I do dump in a little Hydrogen Pyroxide when I change the water.

I also have a bubbler, and will drop an airstone in a jar if a cutting is slow rooting it seems to help. I have always had good luck rooting and seldom lose a cutting.

OK, I will add old blue canning jars, Picabo. LOL I know I just read someone else used them. I wonder if I can find some when I go antiquing.

Xeriscape8321, I am not the expert on hydrogen peroxide. I learned about it from Sherry, Jeanette and Randy. I bought some 80% at the hydroponics store that you need to dilute way down. But I haven't really used that yet. I just add the 3% you get at Walgreens to the water.......about half and half to water. I also have sprayed my leaves with straight 3% more than once and it hasn't hurt them yet.

After I read about it here on Dave's I googled it and read rave reviews. It makes the water bubble, adding O2 to it.