I took several cuttinsg from my Brugs outside and I stripped off the bottom 1/2 of the leaves. Then I dipped the wetted tips in Rootone and then placed the cuttings all in the same 1 gallon pot in some MG potting soil. They've been getting daily water and are in full sun (which may be my problem) and are not staked (they're green cuttings, not hardwood). These have been outside like this for 3 days today and are falling over and turning into mush. Help? What am I doing wrong? Can I save these?
Help with cuttings, please!
It could be too much sun, I never plant mine untill they show either white nubbins or roots, I keep them in water that I change every two days, also only three cuttings to a container.
Ok, do you think it's too late for me to try this with mine?
I do stick cuttings in pots of soil, outside, but never in the sun. Full shade until they are rooted well, is best. Also, you will find that putting a lot of cuttings in one pot will make it a bit harder to get them untangled to plant in individual pots unless you don't let them go long and get rooted around each other. It's possible that one that may rot could also contaminate the whole pot. Watering the soil daily is probably too much water. If you put the pots of cuttings in the shade, they shouldn't need water every day, especially if you are using a gallon or larger pot.
Really green cuttings..... I would do as Doris mentioned above, keeping the containers out of the sun as well.
Ok, thanks. Do you know if it's too late to save mine?
Turning into mush doesn't sound good, but just being limp can be due to sitting in the sun. I would just keep them as cool as you can right now and see what happens. Don't have the pot of soil too wet. It might help to mist the tops from time to time, but where you live, putting a plastic bag over the tops might cook the cuttings, outside, unless you bring the pot into the house......and that might be a good idea.
Ok, I'll try that and let you know what happens. Thanks!!
I generally think a soilless mix, such as perlite and vermiculite, is a better medium to start any plant, since it has less bacteria. After saying that, I must admit that I have, on occasion, cut a piece of Brug off, stripped the lower leaves, and stuffed it into the same pot as its parent. After a few weeks of looking half dead, it generally has rooted and I can dig it out. But on those occasions, I don't much care if they survive. I do think rooting in shade is much less stressful on the cutting.
Susan in Minneapolis
Thank you guys for all the help ... I took a pic this evening of the damage so you can see ... I think I can still save these though. I'll be pulling all the leaves off tomorrow, buying more soil and bringing them inside. Thanks!!
I place limp looking cuttings into a jar of warm water for a few hours to rehydrate. The ability of a rootless cutting to take up water is very limited. Placing the cutting in the sun means the leaves will transpire more water than the cutting can soak up.
Ok, ok - GREAT advice, I'll do that, too!