Hi Everyone,
I am a little worried about my new leaves and need advice. I just got a shipment from velvet leaf and also some leave from a friend. I potted them in perlite and av soil about 50/50. They are in teeny weeny clay pots and than in an aquarium. They seem to be o.k. but very dry.. I water them a little bit with a little plant mister but I so afraid to get them too wet. I know if they are too dry they won't root. So far they look o.k. and their not wilting. Are the little clay pots a bads idea? How moist should the soit be? How long before I can expect them to root. It's only been a few day so far :)
I am very nervous about this,eek
Learning slow but sure,
Sue
I'm worried about my leaves
Well in my opinion - Yes the clay pots are a bad idea. The clay will absorb all the water and they will continue to dry out. If I were you I would switch them to plastic pots.
The soil should be just damp not overly wet.
They can root in a few weeks or they can take up to 6 months to show any babies.
Patience is a virtue!
Sue, I think the plastic pots with the drain holes would be better. And my leaves took about 6 wks to 3 months to root. It is not a fast process.
good luck.
I love to root in straight perlite in those little 3oz solo cups you get at the grocery store......I put 5 of them in a plastic container and put holes in the bottom of each solo with a cigarette lighter (3 of them)
I just happen to use www.rachelsreflections.com the first time i rooted leaves and it was easy......she has a great index with every how to page you could want.
Thanks everyone!
I am going to go to the store tomorrow and buy some little plastic cups and repot. So far the little leaves actually look pretty perky. It's just that the potting picture gets kind of dry. I have aquarium gravel in the bottom of the aquarium and today I decided to put some water on the gravel to help with humidity. It seems to be helping a lot.
Thanks everyone for the tips, I will report back in when I repot!
Sue
I don't know whether I am supposed to fertilize while they root, but I do.............................about once a week when I add water to the bottom of the plastic container I use 1/8 strength fertilizer as they are only in perlite......good luck....there are a zillion ways to do something, but i find rachel's site so helpful unless a DGer with a lot of experience can guide me.
this is a good time of year to be rooting leaves in MI (spring). Sounds like they'll be fine - clay is just a lot trickier to get right.
hi Gail - no need to fertilize until the leaf has put out some roots. Before then, all you are doing is letting fertilizer build up in the perlite. Once they have sent out roots they can start to use the food......
thanks Ki......I really didn't put that right......now don't laugh, but when I tug at the leaf and I feel resistance, I start fertilizing....is that still not a good idea.....they put out those roots long before I see the babies coming up?????
That's just right, Gail!
thanks Ki!!!!