While checking the stem of the plumie cutting to make sure it's not mushy, I noticed that it's is really firm in the potting mix, more so than when I checked previously. It's been 2 1/2 months on the heat mat, under the Ott-lite, does it have roots before it gets leaves? The tips of the cutting have become more green than than they were too.
Does plumie root before you see leaves?
SOunds to me thou I'm no pro that it is doing good. And yes I fount it does get roots before leaves :))
Congrat, Beverly! It sounds like you've rooted your dwarf! Your leaves should be popping out any time now.
Yippee! I am so excited I didn't kill the thing! Looking forward to the leaves and then the blooms.
A leaf appeared today!!! Even though I did not do what Dete suggested, and just rested the heat mat on a table, it rooted between mid-September and now. Just one small leaf, not yet unfurled. How long until I should expect buds? Spring? Will keep up the water and the extra light. Hetty, can I bother it now?
Great growing ! Congratulations :))
Congrats on your roots. By the way, what's an "ott lite"? I did a search and several different types of lights came up, which did you use? And what type of cutting are you rooting? I'm doing an aztec gold.
Maureen
Hi Maureen,
The Ott-Lite I have is the foldable desk light, a small one. The plumie is a dwarf Singapore Pink, supposed to be hard to root. 2 leaves are out now. Hettie, can I bother it yet?
Great growing ! Sounds like a real nice plant . Can't wait to se pictures !
Bbinjj - thanks for the info on the light. I thought maybe is was some type of a grow light, just a desk light with a regular bulb?
What do you mean by disturb it? I'm lost.
thanks
Maureen
Beverly, I would still be careful not to disturb it as those new roots are quite fragile. Remember that it takes a full 90 days most of the time to get a nice root system. I would just continue to have it on the heat mat and water a little bit more often when you see that the soil is dry. Congratulations! Here is the DSP that I rooted this summer. It is still blooming! I'm sure you will get blooms next spring or summer.
Here is my bigger DSP. It is still blooming too, and there are new inflo's on the branches.
Maureen, Ott-Lites are a type of fluorescent bulbs that show colors in the most natural way, as if in daylight. Clare, I was kidding and yes, I've begun to water it more often now that leaves are popping out; it is still on the mat and under the light.
Just for your info., guys: Some of the plumeria growers over at PlumeriaPals were not impressed using Ott lights for keeping plants growing and thought that plant grow lights or Metel Halide lights were better. There was a brief discussion about this the other day.
bbinjnj - thanks for the info on the ott-lite. i have my rooted cutting of Aztec gold (hopefully rooting that is) on my windowsill in a sunny south window on a heating mat. I am hoping it will root. i think it will be ok with grow lights as it's on a really good south sunny window sill -- what do you guys think? I started it about 1 month ago and it seems to be resisting when i tug on it, so i think i have roots.
Bbinnj - is the one you rooted fragrant? What type of fragrance does it have?
Maureen
Clare, I don't know why they weren't impressed. The spectrum of Ott-Lites is as close to sunlight as you can get, closer than regular fluorescent lights, which so many people use. I happen to have 2 small Ott-Lites because I do crafting and need the true color they give me so I had them available for my plants.
Maureen, I believe it is fragrant. Calre and Hetty, you have DSPs, what kind of fragrance should I expect?
Beverly, DSP is sweet and lovely.
Maureen, Aztec Gold smells like a fresh peach. Your Aztec Gold cutting as at least two more months of rooting to do, maybe longer in this cold season. I highly recommend not tugging on it. The roots are fragile at this stage, and you could break them by tugging on them. You'll know that you have roots when you see leaves growing.
Beverly, they could be wrong. I think the discussion about Ott lights is that they are expensive and not generally made for plant use but for ease on the eyes when used for other things. I think certain lights that are specific to plants are the best. The different lights in the spectrum influence different things. Here's what one member wrote:
"All you really need to root really well is the metal halide. It has
no peer regarding rooting. It is a blue spectrum light which plants
use for rooting and growing leaves. The yellow-ish light is for
blooms which you really need when they are blooming.
The 1000 watt gives them something close enough to full sun.
Scott"
When I had my light set up, I used the Wonderlite that I got here: http://rosemania.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page20.html#112
I have several "Ott lights". I bought one for about $18.- that fits regular socket. I have several larger plants under it. One has a double seed pod on it,(It had the seed pod on it when I brought it in for the winter)the pods have grown and the one branch now has an inflo on it.
I have a desk light type of Ott light upstairs by the sink were I have a Scott Prat and a few others. SP has put out several new leaves and the others are doing ok. My Hawaiian Palm is doing ok too.
The metal Halide light the cuttings are under is only 400 watts. I thought I would build up slowly to see how this all was going to impact the electric bill.My plumeria cuttings are in a sand box with bottom heat. I can't say enough about this method. After checking 75% of my cuttings have rooted. I think I will never try to root any other way again.
I am also working with LED lights that only use 6 watts and produce no heat.
Mickey
Mickey...a sand box???
Clare, sorry I missed your message. Thanks for the info on rooting. I will not tug at the cutting again. Patience, I must have patience. It is getting tlc on the heat mat in my sunny south window. I hope to have blooms this summer :-) I also must try Miami rose. I'm going to see if I can do a trade come spring.
Thanks
Maureen
One leaf is totally unfurled, the second is nearly there, and more little leaf buds are springing out. I'm giving it water about every other day, leaving it on the mat and keeping under the light for 14-16 hrs a day. Dare I hope for blooms this spring?
A sand box is were I put my cuttings to root. I have the heat mat under the sand. The sand helps to spread and keep the tempreture.I double cups in the sand box so I can take the cutting out and check how the progress of the roots are going.
