A friend of my sweetie gave me a branch of his confederate rose. I couldn't get it into water for about two hours, then I cut it and put it in -- this was Sunday. Do y'all think there's any chance it will survive? Is there something I should add to the water that would help? Rooting hormone? Any experience with this one? He has his trimmed into a tree and it's beyond gorgeous. TIA!
confederate rose cutting
I have the hardest time rooting Hibiscus in water, mine usually rot at the end of the stem......I"ll be watching this thread for the solution
My trop. Hibiscus don't want to root in water, either. Maybe someone at the RU on Sat. can tell me what I'm doing wrong and then I'll probably take some more cuttings, dip in hormone and plant in soil (potting soil or perlite, etc.)
Will be watching here and find out what our gurus have to say on the subject. There's always some sharp person who has already done all this and is quite expert at it.
Ann
I have sucessfully rooted cuttings of Confederate Rose in water numerous times. I have an old 5 gallon plastic pail that I fill a little over half full of water, set it outside in warm weather in a shady locatiion and take woody cuttings about 18" to 24" and they root without a problem. I have had more trouble with the tropical hibiscus. Sometimes they root and sometimes they rot. The Confederate Rose has never failed to root in the water, but I can't get them to root in soil, even with rooting hormone. Hope this helps.
Don't you just love this place? Got a question, someone has answer fr experience! Makes it so much easier on our first time with a new plant. Thanks, Dave!
Crow, you coming to CSRU?
I got mine from a friend that cuts hers down in the fall and puts the cuttings in a 5 gal pail 1/2 -2/3rds full of water. This is set in a cool, dimly lit room and ignored for the winter. The water doesn't evaporate as it is cool but she will occasionally check and add water if needed. The roots start appearing in a month. I too have had similar luck with rooting the Confederate Rose in the past.
Great! I have two cuttings in water on my kitchen counter (I could dry towels on this setup...) and won't get impatient. I'm SO excited about this tree! Thanks for the input.
I found this thread of interest. My CR didn't come back this year, can't imagine why. There is one down the street that is so big it looks like a tree. I think I will stop and ask if I might have cuttings. I would like to have good luck with a few.Maybe your comments will help me.
gabriell, this friend just lopped off a lower branch and told me to trim it a bit and stick it in water. I'll post when and if I have success with it. He trims the trunk of all branches down low, and it's a gorgeous shade tree -- must be at least 20' tall.
Check the Propagation forum for recent threads about rooting with a bubbler (airstone in the water to raise oxygen levels and keep water from stagnating)... I'm pretty sure more than one species of hibiscus are among the success stories with this method.
:-)
I think the trick may be the deeper water. Podster says he's rooted them in 5 gal pails and that's what I've used when I've been successful. The vase on the kitchen window has failed more often than not.
Smockette, I was really lookig forward to the CSRU, but my grandbaby's 2nd birthday falls on that day, so Grandma really can't miss that. I'm hoping that I can make it next time. I really want to be able to put faces with some of the very helpful people I've talked to on here. Have fun without me.
Crowelli ~ I agree with using more water but this friend seems to think the dimmer lighting and cooler temps are important too. The few I rooted successfully, sat in a dark corner on a cool back porch.
"Passalong Plants" says "Confederate Rose is easy to propagate, making it a good passalong plant. You can take cuttings anytime from spring through fall. Stick the cuttings in water and they'll erupt with masses of firm white roots faster than you can give plants away."
Brigidlily, Let us know your success please?
I'm using a bubbler right now to root some cuttings and among them are some from my tropical hibiscus. I have bumps already and it's only been 2 weeks. Also, I have better luck with my bubbler if I add a heat source. It seems warmer water works better for me. Things I have had in plain water or even in a baggie for humidity may rot in winter, but when put on a heating pad they root instead. I currently have one on order to put under my bubbler to raise the water temp.
:) Kim
Mine are sitting on the kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight. They're in my crystal vase so I can watch the root activity. They're developing some little white spots -- I figure it's either something that will rot or root them. Time will tell. I'll definitely post progress (or, heaven forbid, regress).
Doing the same, brigidily. We shall see,,,,,,,
Ann
Should I put rooting hormone in the water? (NOVICE!! DON'T YELL AT ME!!!)
go git 'em, Brig.
This thread caught my eye because I've got some little confederate rose plants I'd like to try to propagate if survive... so I've been following along...
I know I'm both butting in and getting up on a soapbox here, but... Kim, I don't know what you're using for a bubbler container, but if you're talking about putting a household heating pad under it, please don't. Heating pads aren't designed for use 24/7, and like electric blankets they aren't designed to have things on top of them. It's a fire hazard. I know there are those who will say, "I've been using one for years without a problem," but there's no reason to take that chance. Also, due to the hazard, I think most (all?) heating pads now shut off automatically after a certain amount of time. Hopefully you're talking about using something else.... :-)
In any event, you can warm the water in your bubbler by putting in an appropriately sized aquarium heater. A 50 watt one should do the trick for a 10 or 20 gallon bubbler and should run you less than $10.
Thanks for the concern, Critter. Actually I use a germination mat, the ones that are sold specifically for germination and cuttings. I guess I should have called it that rather than a heating pad for clarification. Perfectly safe for what I am doing. I do worry about such things and try to be careful. I did try an aquarium heater, but I like this better.
Thanks, Kim
*whew* :-) and thanks for not being offended...
I've got a couple of those seedling heat mats myself, and I love them! It makes sense to use one under a bubbler, and you'll probably get more even heating than with a submersible aq heater.
I kind of forgot (OK, I forgot totally) that I had several cuttings of CR in a pitcher of water in the garage, and found them later when the water was way down, and the cuttings were full of roots. Just put some more water in until I could get them planted. In my experience, they are very easy to root.
All right! This thread started a week ago. All the different ways of trying to root these. Who else besides Ceejaytown has roots. Go look and report back... : )))
LOL I didn't say how long it took. And, as a matter of fact, I don't remember! One month, three months????
Ohhh sorry, kind of like watching a pot boil.
I have decided that rooting in water (for me) is a long waste of time. I'd rather plant seeds - at least you have an idea within a few days of when they will start growing. As far as cuttings are concerned I've had better luck just sticking them in the ground. If in a couple of weeks there is a sign of leaves growing on top I figure that it has rooted. If it disappears, I figure it died. Hibiscus and altheas are related and nothing is easier to grow than an althea by cutting/sticking in the ground so I'm just going to put hibiscus cuttings straight into the ground. Again, "if it grows it grows; if it dies it dies". I hate to fuss - life is short.
Ann
ta ta ta DAH!!!
Went on a cruise, got back from the cruise, and better than the cruise is the news! I HAVE ROOTS!!!
Okay, I don't have roots, but my confederate rose cutting does! So the question changes to: WHEN AND HOW DO I PUT IT IN THE GROUND?
Should I plant it in a pot first? Or straight into the corner where it belongs? Should I wait until it has a mass of roots or will it rot if I leave it much longer? Any special witchy potions to plant with it?
Thanks for any and all input!
Ann (the other Ann)
I'm so happy for you! Don't you feel like you've won the Pulitzer or something when your try turns out so well?
Ann (the 1st ann?)
Yes, indeed! I'll be travelling to Oslo later on to receive that Nobel...
Is it just me, or do plants really do better when you ignore them? I mean, this showed NOTHING until I was out of town.
As I have said many times I find they do better for the most part if we don't baby them. There are certain plants that in our hot summers need extra water everyday + extra ferts but for the most part, put them in, water, fert at regular intervals and otherwise love them from a discreet distance. The more we mess the less we enjoy them and that's what they should be there for. Maybe that's why I have more success w/the things I know and have experience with.
Ann
Just in case anyone gave it a second thought, I planted one of the cuttings in the ground yesterday, and the other in a pot (to give to my sweetie if it survives). Think good thoughts!!!
Brigidlily ~ Do keep us posted on your progress with these plants.
Both are fine! Putting out green, though I'll have to cover them up tonight. When they're picture-worthy, I'll post. But as of now, alive and growing!
I finally have roots on one of my cuttings! Just a couple but roots are roots. I took them out of the bubbler and put them in coir, don't know if this made the difference or not. Still on the germination mat.
Kim
I'm thinking there are plants that just WANT to grow. Probably all of them. I put my potted one in the garage last night, and covered the one in the ground with a pillowcase. It was really cold. I sure hope they make it through the winter. They had plenty of roots -- I think if they're strong enough, everything will be fine.
Well,
I have a dinnerplate hibiscus that bloomed beautifully several times this past summer. Now it's leggy, and the leaves have all fallen off, and it looks pitiful. Is there any hope for rejuvenating it for next summer? I don't want it to die. It cost $24.
This is was it looked like at its prime!
P.S. Do I have to buy a bubbler? Can I make one? I'm down with the aquarium light, too. In fact, could I just buy a small aquarium with an aeration thingy?
In my experience, if you'll leave the hibiscus alone, then prune it hard in the spring, you'll be amazed.
Brigid,
It looks like it's dying now. Should I at least bring it inside for the winter? It's in a pot outside.
Gymgirl, they can look like they're dying when they're not, but bringing it inside wouldn't hurt. Are you planning to put it in the ground at some point? They do a lot better in the ground (for me, anyway). Either put it somewhere it will stay cold so it can sleep or where it will get PLENTY PLENTY PLENTY of sun. If you have a garage, tuck it in there and forget about it.
Thanks Brig,
I have the perfect spot for it to "overwinter!"