How are people's DL cuttings coming along? I haven't lost any, but nothing is rooting yet either....I am getting some aerial roots, but I'm not sure what that means...should I consider pinning the whole shoot down and see if the aerial roots will take hold? Or just wait and hope that that's a sign that soil roots are coming? I'm using pure perlite as a rooting medium and have them set up in a 10 gallon aquarium...humidity is high, but I wish I was seeing more evidence of actually taking hold and rooting...have lost a couple more leaves, but no cutting is totally leafless at this time...what is everyone else seeing?
shelley
DL cutting status
I'm glad you started this thread Shelley. I've been curious about everyone's cuttings. My purpureofusca and pentaphlebia are nothing but sticks now. They have lost every one of their leaves, however, they are starting to grow tiny roots. I don't know if they'll survive or not. I'm just going to keep trying. My serpens seems to have rooted, but the leaves are getting soft and limp. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one. All the rest seem to be taking root ok and firming up.
Jen
Jen--what are you using as a rooting medium?
SR
Oh sorry, I was re-reading my answer and realized I left some stuff out lol. I just woke up.
I'm using my usual medium: Miracle-Gro soil, extra perlite and some orchid bark. My Fall DL cuttings all took root within a week of receiving them and I used the same medium. I was also keeping my most recent cuttings in an aquarium with a fluorescent light (made for the tank) over top, but I think the light just wasn't strong enough so I took them out and put them under my big fluorescent shop light. Hopefully the extra air circulation and stronger light will nudge them a long a little faster.
Jen
Thanks :)....I may try switching my cuttings to my regular mix (which is pretty much like yours)....also, you don't have them in anything that retains humidity? I worry about not enough air circulation too, and have been leaving the top off the aquarium for like an hour a day....keeping my finger crossed...
SR
I had these cuttings in a fish tank with hopes that the glass would help retain humidity. This is the first time I have done this. Quite honestly, I've had better luck with all my other cuttings just rooting them amongst my other plants. I guess the other plants help keep the humidity levels up, but I'm really not all that impressed with the fish tank method. I don't know if maybe the light had anything to do with it. I was just using the fluorescent light and hood that came with the tank. I just don't think it was strong enough.
I was spraying the cuttings a few times a day with water to keep humidity up, I'm just not satisfied with the progress of these cuttings. I know a lot of it has to do with the ordeal they had to go through to get to our houses though. My pauciflora hasn't shown any signs of stress whatsoever and has taken root and my obscura seems to be perking up. I'll post some pictures tonight after work if I think of it.
Jen
Patience -
Plants have different growth rates at different times of the year... Remember they left Austrailia where they were going into winter...so the stock plants were slowing down a bit. Then they go thru that ordeal in a box and they arrive HERE in the northern hemisphere going into spring...oops, clocks turned around on them. I think that with patience they will be fine. They just need time. if it were me, I wouldn't change your mix, Shelley...add a spot of fert. in the mist...keep them warm. Air circulation is good, especially for the big leafed ones..... I got mine about a week after you did, and I will be checking them today for progress...upending some of the pots. Totally doable...doesn't hurt them at all if you don't disturb the new little rootlets.....
Carol
Sigh...you're right Carol (as you tend to be)...plus you left out the part where these particular cuttings get held up for a few days at customs and then someone comes along and dips/sprays them with Bourdeax mix, squashing and bending most of them in the process (although we're very glad they got treated)...so these guys are extra stressed and probably will take even more time...I need a hobby to take my mind off all this---oh wait, this IS my hobby...:)
SR
I feel for you...and i think you ALL have a perfect right to be angry about what happened which, actually, was no one's fault!!! Will be checking mine today and tomorrow....
Carol
Oh, I hope I didn't come across as angry (I forgot how to make those smiley faces), just a little frustrated---but it was definitely an Act of God (or an Act of the Government, which is practically the same thing these days)...I don't blame anyone, just wish it hadn't happened the way it did....
SR
So far most of my smaller vined ones have rooted. The thicker 'woodier' looking ones are still rootless! I just put mine in my good potting mix and didn't even add perlite or bark. I put a dome over them and put the whole tray on top of a small entertainment center (bottom heatLOL) and not even a lot of light. Kind of bright reflectd light n the morning then lower light the rest of the day. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Diane
Did a preliminary check of my cuttings today...checked about 5 pots. Very curious: in one pot there are two cuttings....one thick with roots, the other nary a one yet. They do have a mind of their own!!!
I am thinking I will just leave them for a few more weeks...let them get good and started. My cuttings came in about a week after 'that other order' and they didn't go thru the trauma....
Carol