I have received 3 cuttings and don't know what to do with them! No roots. Any advice will be much appreciated.
Sharon
Help!! New to Brugmania!
try this link http://www.brugmansia.us/startcut.shtml
At first, I was told by some folks that they rooted in water all the way to Spring, when they were planted in pots or garden soil. Well, I lost a lot to rot that way. So now I pot them as soon as they deveop nubbies which will turn into roots.
A lot of folks who have a lot of cuttings are putting them in a rig that includes a fish tank bubbler. I'm also sure that some folks do still keep their cuttings in water all winter, but they must have a level of expertise than I do.
I, too, got the impression that I could leave my cuttings in water all winter (with a bubbler) and lost a number of them. Now I pot them up as soon as they develop noticeable roots.
Erick
I just wanted to add , make sure when you do pot them up to put them in a potting mix that is very loose and drains easily. I have rooted alot in water and when I usually lose them is when after getting some roots and potting them in soil, they stay too wet. I usually add quite a bit of perlite to my regular potting mix so that they dry out faster between waterings.
I noticed that in the past, when I tried to keep some cuttings in water all winter, the ones that I lost to rot were in a much sunnier indoor position (very bright southern window exposure.) I would say to pot them up once they have roots starting, and I agree...fast draining soil is key.
To test my theory, I still have some cuttings in water on my kitchen (bright northern window,) and they are doing great with long healthy looking roots. I do change the water several times a week. Just wondering if anyone else noticed that too much sun (and therefore heat) helped to rot them if they weren't potted up.
I'd also like to add that I got the best results potting them with soil that is already damp.. then water in less than 1/2 what you would normally water in.. then don't water again till they are active.. and start watering very little till they are established. It is hard not to water them when they are starting, so I always put them in the back of something so I can't see them! LOL First thing you know.. they are growing!
As far as leaving them in water? Seems to me it's temperature, not light that makes them rot. I have buckets of cuttings outside that were solid ice a couple of months ago, the cuttings did fine.. till it warmed up.. they started growing and the warmer it got, the more of them started to rot. Some with roots over 8" long!