This is probably a dumb question, but .....

The tip of one of my MG vines accidentally broke off. I couldn't bare to toss it, so I stuck it in a vase of water. I change the water every so often and the little vine actually grew more leaves and produced 2 small flowers! I was changing the water again tonight and when I pulled the vine out, it had roots! Whoa!!!

My question ... I have another MG vine that did NOT produce any seeds and it looks like it's about done with it's life cycle. If I cut the tip off and try to root it in water, could this plant have a new life and become a new vine? I don't know what triggers the end of life for a MG vine. What I really want is to get some seeds from this vine.

Has anyone had any experience doing this? If so, I'd like to know more. You can post here on this thread or d-mail me. I would really like to be able to get some seeds as I love this vine and the flowers. It's a cross and I know I would lose it forever if I don't get seeds from it. Thanks in advance for any advice. :-)

If it's a hybrid, probably the only way to propagate it to get that look you want is by doing exactly what you did. Lots of plants that are crosses as you call it, don't look like the parent in the next generation. Open pollination as well as other variables will come into play.

I generally have decent luck rooting some plants by nuking sand in the microwave then adding distilled water and placing the cutting in the sand water mix after it has cooled to room temperature. I drain the sand of water and add fresh every few days or so. Large test tubes work great because you can see root formation without having to disturb the cutting.

In looking at your photo, I'd say that rooted! The only thing I would do at this point would be to remove the frozen celery looking portion of the cutting beneath the roots and then I'd pot it up in a sterile potting mix as opposed to a potting soil.

As far as taking a cutting from the other plant, timing might be slightly off if the plant is at the end of its life cycle but what do you have to lose trying?

Thank you so much for the encouragement. You are right ... what have I got to lose? and maybe, just maybe I'll get the vine to root, grow, flower, and produce a seed pod or two! :-)

Thanks for the growing suggestions too! :-)

Hi Becky, I haven't tried any of nils, but have tried a couple of the species and they are rooting, not all of them, some will even airlayer. I will cut off a piece of Dracula and see what happens. It may LIVE forever..lol.

I tried rooting I. bolusiana from a cutting this summer and didn't have any luck. It's a desert plant that likes it dry so I don't think the cutting liked sitting in water. I should experiment more with rooting MG cuttings.

As far as what signals the end of the plants life cycle....I know a heavy seed load will stop new growth. I've had a plant loaded with developing seeds stop growing, and then when I pick the mature seeds it springs back to life again. Temps and the hours of light the plant gets each day also seem to have an effect.

Beth, try airlayering the species types, that is how i found out that marginata was rooting, then I snipped off some cuttings and tried them in water, they also rooted. I have an ochracea plant that jumped from one pot into another and rooted itself. Now I have to move both pots at the same time. I did not want to cut it off yet.


edited to change: obscura to ochracea

This message was edited Oct 30, 2007 9:52 AM

I tried it in water with an air bubble and it didn't work, so I'll try air layering! Thanks for the tip....

I have put tievine in water and they get roots, but it is a perennial one, I have never try annuals, I shall try to roth one of my NIL´S the one in the thread named Grey Fog, but it is not Gray Fog Emma say it is probebly be a stray seed.

It makes no seeds, nil never do here, so I shall try it in a vase of water :o)

~Sylvia