Hi! Everybody!! I have probably asked this question before but I forgot it. I didn't see it in any of my threads. Anyway, is it possible to grow passies from cuttings? Does anyone have a method of doing this? Do you use plant growth hormone (Dip n Grow) or is that not organic? Any info greatly appreciated.
Have a nice weekend...
Thanks,
Chuck
Passiflora Cuttings
Hello Chuck.
I have rooted many, many different kinds of Passifloras from cuttings. Most root relatively easily. I use a growing end with at least two leaves planted in a basic seed starter. A dip in rooting hormone helps for sure. Keep them moist (but not soppy wet) and covered with plastic to keep the humidity very high. Just make sure to remove the plastic at least once a day for awhile to give the cuttings some fresh air, or you will quickly end up with mold. Set them in a bright spot, but not direct sun. Once you see strong new growth, you can plant them up.
Good luck!
Erick
Dear Erick,
Thanks for answering so soon! What kind of basic seed starter were you referring to? (Remember I am a beginner.) Can I use peat moss or potting soil?
Thanks again,
Chuck
Chuck,
It's just my opinion, but I think regular potting soil is a bit too rich for rooting cuttings (although it would still probably work ok). I suggest a commercial/professional "seed starter", which I believe is mostly peat moss. I find it at my local garden center. It's specifically formulated for starting seeds and cuttings and usually comes in a smaller bag.
Erick
Erick,
Thanks again!! I checked most of the commercial nurseries in Moreno Valley and Riverside. Nobody has it except Lowe's Home Improvement. I am going there in a couple of moments. I am uncertain of Home Depot because they left me listening to music for 16 minutes. Maybe next time I go to the store to pick up some other item, I will check.
Thanks,
Have a nice weekend!!
Chuck
I usually have good luck finding seed starting mix at OSH--do you have those down by you?
Chuck,
I hope your trip to Lowe's paid off. I am not an expert at rooting cuttings by any means, but I do have really good luck rooting many things in those peat-based seed starter mixes. Perhaps it's because they don't pack down right away and air can get to the new roots. Just a guess.
Please post pics of your efforts and successes when you can.
Erick
Dear Ecrane,
I don't know of any stores nearby called by OSH.
Dear Eric, I went to Lowe's this morning and searched hard. All I could find was a seed starter mix for lawns. I wasn't sure if this was the one or not. So I just purchased the Vermiculite from Lowe's. The package had a standard recipe for cuttings soil...1/2 vermiculite and 1/2 Spaghnum Peat Moss (which I already have). What I am going to do is try two cuttings with this method and one pot I will cover with plastic and take the plastic off for five or ten minutes a day. With the other pot I am going to just try it without plastic. I have had real good luck with lemon grass using potting soil and plenty of sunshine but the night blooming jessamine has not had very good results at all.
Thanks to the two of you...
Chuck
Chuck,
Your vermiculite/peat mix sounds perfect for rooting cuttings. Please keep us updated on your project.
Erick
Just for the heck of it (while my passifloras are still growing...three from just being transplanted last week), I started a Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower plant. It was a runner from the main plant...the second one even had two roots already started. I put the first one in the growth hormone solution. Then I put it in direct sun. Ten minutes later I checked on it and it was dead...LOL. The second one I brought inside and covered with Saran Wrap. To keep the Saran Wrap away from the plant, I got four straws from a local gas station. If this doesn't work I will start taking off leaves but I don't know how many I should leave for the Pincushion Flower. If this shows new growth in a reasonable amount of time I will try the passies.
Thanks again,
Chuck
I have been so excited about actually starting cuttings the professional way that I potted three more cuttings of Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower. I can hardly wait until the passies are more established. Another question popped to mind after I finished with the potting. How often do you water? How do you tell that you need to water? Do you replace the Saran Wrap each time?
Have a nice day!!
Thanks again,
Chuck
I have been using a method I saw on another forum. It is not my idea but it works great.
It uses floral foam, and rooting hormone. The foam is placed in tupperware container, fill with water to top of foam. With a toothpick poke small holes in the foam where you want your plants to go. Take your cuttings and dip them in rooting hormone and place them in the foam. Keep the water levels up. No need to cover the top. I change the water every day. Keep in a bright indirect sunlit window.
I have rooted dozens of passies this way and also other flowering shrubs and vines like allamanda, stephanotis, jasmines etc. Hibiscus seems to do well this way too. I just starting experimenting with those.
This message was edited Oct 4, 2007 1:08 PM
Thanks for the idea. I am just getting started with alternate ways than a glass of water and hope. Lots of hope.
Can you use rooting hormone on anything you are trying to root?
Dear ErickMN,
I just wanted to tell you that I researched and found this article on passiflora cuttings today. Your effort and know-how was very helpful as today I am planting passiflora cuttings.
I hope I said thanks for the info,
Chuck
Dear Angel Tree Baby,
Thanks for your tips!!
What is an indoor bright but not direct sunlight place? My wife has a nylon curtain on one of our windows. Would that be considered as too much sun or bright but not direct sunlight? I am in the process of getting shop lights in which to start native plant seedlings. Is there any way that I could use them for passiflora cuttings?
Thanks again for sharing,
Chuck
A see through curtain would work or you could use a window that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. I havent tried rooting with shoplights but it would be the same thing so should work! You can use 1 regular florescent bulb and 1 grow light in ea shoplight.
dylancgc,
Yes I dip them in rooting hormone (powdered kind) before putting them in the foam (sorry forgot to say that)!
It is very important to change the water once a day. In the begining I sometimes change it twice and use lukewarm water.
This message was edited Oct 20, 2007 10:42 AM