basic how to on propagation based on my experience

I am on the opposite side of the country and find that in order for my brugs to survive the heat, I have to plant them in the shade. Here they will survive my winter although I have lost a few.
I can only leave cuttings in water until the little white bumps form on the stem. Then I have to plant them in soil otherwise they will rot. The easiest time for me to root them is when I cut them back before first frost. Hope that is helpful. Ibartoo

Is anybody here successful at rooting passiflora? If so which methods are you using? Thanks, Ibartoo

Yes, please! I've tried water and soil with bottom heat and neither worked on an 'Incense' passiflora...

Dave, here is a question I have been meaning to ask you. Forever. What about starting plants now for next year from plants I started from seed this year? Such as verbena. I have some gorgeous verbenas that I do not think I am going to be able to collect seeds from that I truly want in my containers next year. So, what about taking cuttings from them?

I think a good propagation series would be on collecting seeds. I know there is a lot of stuff out there, however, not like this where we can actually ask you the questions that we have in "real" time. lol

Jeanette

OT - but PaganC - I'd be happy to send you some rooted incense now or next June (which is when it comes up here)

Ok, another one of LDQ. (Lorraine's dumb questions) When you cut the stem to root and cut it 6-8 inches long, how deep in the soil do you plant it. If we use the inserts, would we cut it shorter. I've been doing mine wrong. I've only been cutting about 3 inches putting 2 nodes in the soil.
That's probably why I lose some. So the cuttings 6 inches, and there would just be a small amt of stem in the dirt, (with nodes of course) and it would be tall on top?

Jeanette, you asked another question I wanted to know too. Well, actually you all did. My first year to really try and root stuff.

Ok, another question. Should the rootings be kept inside or outside in the shade?

I had some hibiscus stems, semi hard, and put it in water, changed the water every other day. They started to get the little "white" bumps and I thought they were ok. Then I noticed the water smelled terrible. After a few days, they rotted, and I didn't think I would ever get the smell out of my nose. lol I put peroxide in the water and changed it really often, but they were outside.

I know the cuttings were good, cause Pam got some off the same bush and all of hers rooted.

Jeanette: Yes start as much as you can for next year. I have been doing that all summer. I lost my silvermound stock plant a few days ago. My cat got into it (I think). Fortunately I have a fey plugs and some cuttings still going. I usually get a 50% loss on them. Any plant you can start and keep small inside is a bonus for next year. I was very fortunate this last spring because I managed to do a lot of good trades and most people were more than generous. It allowed me to add to my stock plants. Less to buy next year.
Lorraine. your 2 node cuttings should work. I think the 6" cuttings would be tough to get to survive the rooting process. too much plant to suport.
How deep? I like to stick them about mid way but sometimes it goes lower. I think as long as it doesn't stick out the bottom it will be fine. You may be loosing some to disease, fungus gnats or some other reason. You may want to mist the tops. I shoot for at a min. of twice a day. I have started using the jump start as a foliar spray as well.
Jump start is a mix of seaweed extract and some other acids that are suposed to help the cutting along. The jury is still out on it. I'll let you know how it goes.
Lorraine and everyone else, don't get upset when you have some or all of a species fail. I have had my share of losses. Just keep plugging away at it and learn from your mistakes.
robcorreia talked about the little bumps when he was discussing Burgs & Dats. Try it again and when you see the little bumps pot them in soil. I think in the warmer climates the plants go from bumps to rot over night. I had that happen on a burg I got in a trade. I like them but for the life of me they are a mistery. I have too many other plants I love to mess with. I will admire them from a distance. Aren't they toxic if swallowed? The reason I ask we have lttle ones this weekend and I would hate for them to get into the one I have and get sick. I would litterally die if that happened.

Dave

Lorraine, what are inserts? I am wondering what you are cutting 6 to 8 inches long? The whole cutting, or past the node?

How did Pam do hers different than how you did?

Jeanette

I guess I am really puzzled about what you are doing Lorraine. Dave says it is too much plant to support. How long is your cutting, and what is it?

Dave, Brugs are not the only plants that are poisonous. Just put it up where your kiddies can't get to it.

Lorraine, I tried the ice chest idea you talked about and the plants are swimming around happily with the airstone moving them. Reminds me of the little kids out in the swimming pool. lol Also, the electric knife cut it great. Didn't make crumbs.

Jeanette

Kitty, like Ibartoo said, it all depends on your zone, really. I am in a frost free zone, so I litterally never bring anything inside for the winter, but I think somebody from the same zone as you would know for sure what to do.
I usually leave my cuttings in the shade, but the full grown Brugs are in full sun (with lots of irrigation!). Again, irrigation is also a factor of your zone - I am constantly watering because it never even rains here during the summer.
Dave, yes, they are poisonous. I don't think they are tasty though, so I don't see why kids would want to eat them! ; )

I must be dense. After you get the lantana in the medium, then you put it in greenhouse? Can I just leave it outside? Should I cover it with plastic wrap? Sure wish I had a greenhouse. Then approx. how long for roots to develop? Then you heel them in for the winter or do I bring them in the house?
Thanks for all the info. Just before you had put up the lantana segment, I was looking at my lantana (no ID) but a real purty orangey- red and it looked great this summer in a pot on the deck, so I was thinking I sure would like this again next year. then lo and behold, there you wrote it up. The hummingbirds liked it too.
Thanks again, jan

Jan, I have found the red/orange lantana not as hardy as the yellow lantanas or even the multicolor varieties. In your zone, I would root it and then keep it in a frost free area even if you allow it to go dormant. They have an unpleasant odor to me, so I wouldn't want them in my house but if you have a closed in porch or a cold frame to protect them, they should be just fine. If you do decide to leave it outside, then I would suggest mulching it heavily. Hope this is helpful. Linda

Thanks Linda.
Don't have a cold frame, but I will now.

Jan do you have access to hay bales? They make a great insulator for a cold frame

Then just lay an old window across them? I think I could find some. Should it be on the south side? Is east okay? Should it be protected by a building? I am going to try doing this. Thanks for all your input everyone. It is great to learn new things.

Dave - ya gotta blame the kitties - come on- they always look so innocent! hehe- before ya bust my chops look at the time - another sleepless night - just kind of punchy -

Jan, I traded plants with a lady in ohio last year who overwintered clematis vines under a picnic table with an old blanket over it for insulation. She told me it was great because it provided warmth and humidity. She could uncover the table for warmer days and when it rained or snowed the moisture in the blanket helped the plants that much more. You might want to try something like that for your lantanas. I can't use it here because we don't have enough cold weather, but it might help some of your plants. Let me know what you think. Linda

Oh, I would definitely put the hay bales and window close to a building and depending on the amount of cold/afternoon heat you get in the warmest place.

thanks, ibartoo. I would think the blanket would make things too dark.? That's pretty creative though.

Jan, I thought so too, maybe she used a light colored blanket or something, but she had some gorgeous clematis vines. LOL

Jan, coming from Phoenix, AZ, I can tell you that my lantanas got burnt back pretty badly with just a few hours of under 32 degree weather - so please don't try this experiment with any plant you can't bear to lose! But I agree with Ibartoo - southern exposure, next to the house should be the warmest. Lots of luck!

Somewhere last year, I think, someone was talking about B-12. It is suppose to do something for rooting, transplants, or something when they are little. Anyway, it sounded good so I got some. My question is, 'How does B-12 fit into this discussion. if at all?'.

Lorraine told me about this thread so I spent last night and this morning reading through it. I got some Oasis cubes from a recent co-op and am heading out this morning to get them in water so I can start some cuttings. If Oasis cubes have been mentioned here I missed it. How do you all feel about the cubes and what kind of success have you had? I also have some of that rooting hormone from the germination co-op. I have a number of vines and a few others things I want to root, so will be watching this thread closely.

Thanks in advance for any help. Pam

Catlady, I started this spring using the oasis cubes and somethings rooted much better while others didn't. Overall it seemed to take twice as long and not being the most patient gardener I decided I'd rather not use them. I also found that once I planted the cuttings in the soil it took them a while to break down and if they dried out, the rootling had a real hard time recovering.

I rooted various tropical vines and shrubs. I would definitely suggest trying them. You might have much better success.
Ibartoo

I also read (last night, as a matter of fact) that honey works in place of rooting hormone.

Okay, Ibarrtoo, don't tell us the root cubes aren't really wonderful@!! We both got a bunch of them. !!! lol

Lorainne, I certainly don't mean to sound discouraging. What I used was oasis (wet florist foam) If that is something different then I haven't tried it and need to shut up.

PaganCat, I have also heard about honey. I don't know if it helps rooting any, but I do know that it is both antibacterial and antifungal. I use it for my birds. I have heard of people mixing it with root-tone or other rooting powders to keep fungal problems at bay.

Catlady, before Superthrive I used to use B-12. What I think it does is keeps the shock down when you transplant. Keeps the plant from being stressed out. Since they have come out with the Superthrive I can't find any B-12. It was under a couple of different names. Upstart and something else.

Here is a picture, not too good, of what Lorraine was talking about with the cuttings floating in a styrofoam cooler with an airstone. I think this is what she meant.

Jeanette

One more. there are also 2 cuttings of angel wing begonia just sticking in there. Not floating.

Jeanette

I was just teasing you about the oasis things., (My sense of humor isn't like most normal people) I just wish I knew the fool proof pots, etc to root them in. Maybe I should put them in 4 inch pots, and plant a little deeper? I'll try a million things till I find the one that works for me, so ya'll will have to hear each one in excruciating detail! lol

I planted a couple seeds in them to see what they would do and so far they've come up. We'll see.

Hey, that looks just like my little "syro. boats" We'll have to compare notes.

Lorraine, not to worry, my sense of humor isn't "normal" either. LOL I just didn't want to be discouraging.
Have you tried germinating and rooting in ziplock baggies........ My germination results skyrocketted this year and some of my rooting did too.

I have an aquarium i am planning to set up tomorrow for cuttings. I need to get some stryofoam and a few other things first. my biggest problem is I want to root every thing I have and I have nowhere to keep all my plant babies this winter. My little greenhouse isn't big enough and DH renounced retirement before he could build me a second one. LOL

Can you propagate Flowering Crab by cuttings? I believe I have read that these plants are propagated by grafting. The reason I ask is because I have a 20 year old tree that is getting out of control with shoots coming up from it's roots. Just this morning, I cut them off. I would feel alot better if I could turn these cuttings into new plants.

THANKS,
Anne

Well, so far none of what I am trying has worked. Not counting the floaters. lol. I think the reason I am having trouble is because a couple of weeks ago our night time temps dropped into the 40s and I think when that happens the plants are preparing for winter and that means no more growing.

That doesn't mean that I am giving up tho. I have other plants I am going to try. Things I have never even considered trying as cuttings because I have bought them each spring. Going to try anyway.

Dave, do you think I have a chance in my zone 4/5 of getting cuttings to root and grow into plants over the winter? Most plants go dormant here.

Jeanette

Howdy everyone sorry for the silence. I have been studying the aeroponics articles I had printed. Good thing I printed it because for the life of me I couldn't find it on line if I had a road map. One thing it talks about is keeping the solution dark to slow down the algae. I know you are changing the solution every otherday Lorraine. It also talks about a misting system for the root zone. It sounds very basic and I hope to get the directions posted in a day or so..
Jeanette: I had the small problem with some boxwood cuttings I took last fall. I thought they would root anyway as long as I kept them warmer in the GH but noooooooooooooo. They finally started rooting out this summer. If you can geep the soil temp to about 68 - 72 degrees you should be able to. I am sure some of the plants are daylength sensative so they may not root out this fall for you. I would try to have a grow light on a timer and possaly use a grow mat to help up the soil temp. I wish I had a more frugal way to instruct you. Maybe in the garage?
Jan23: If possable an enclosed box with the hay bales. It will help keep critters out of the flats and add another insulating factor to the mix.
Kitty : I am usually puncy most of the time. I love the humor. but how can kitties be responsable they are so cute they wiould never do anything , would they???
Catlady: Oasis cubes work well for a lot of people. I never liked them because of the point someone else pointed out earlier. they dry out before the soil and if you are not watching closely they will dry out so bed that the plant dies. Its just a personal choice.
http://www.nehydro.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_2 is a link to a superthrive retailer. I would try a web search and find the best deal if you have to have it now or possably a co-op for the stuff.
Lulabelle1: most (or should I say a lot of) ornamental flowering trees are grafted onto a better root stock. Now what that means for the flowering crab a disease resistant variety is grafted onto a more suportive root stock. the grafted section seems to be disease resistant to scab and other diseases that set in on crabs in general. with that said I would try to root it anyway. It sounds like you are wanting to root the succkers coming up from the roots. Is this correct or are they volunteers coming up from seeds spread out around the tree? Succkers from crabs rootstock tend to not be as showey as the upper grafted part. Most section chosen to graft on a root stock have some aspect that the grower feels is superior to the root stock.
Please let me know If I missed any questions. One of the main things that needs to happen in propagation is to keep a consistant root zone temperature. 68 - 72 degrees, I know when it gets warmer we have to increase the frequency of misting. I am trying to find the link to a woven poly I bought last winter to cover my greenhouse. It traps the heat inside and acts as shade to lower the scortch on plantletts. I will get another post up tomorrow. we had grand babies this weekend. they are so cute and hands everywhere. lol Have a great day. I will check in from time to time today
Dave

Hey, should I keep the things I'm trying to root indoors out ofthe 100 degree heat, or is the heat better.?

Quote:
It sounds like you are wanting to root the succkers coming up from the roots. Is this correct or are they volunteers coming up from seeds spread out around the tree?

Pughbear, yes, you are correct. Now that you brought it to my attention, I see what you are saying. Hmmmm Maybe I'll try to grow a few from the seeds.

THANKS,
Anne

Dave, how many grandbabies do you have???

BTW, you said Quote: I had the small problem with some boxwood cuttings I took last fall. I thought they would root anyway as long as I kept them warmer in the GH but noooooooooooooo. They finally started rooting out this summer.

Let me tell you, you have a lot more patience than I do. Those suckers would have been history long before summer if it had been me.

Jeanette

Lulabelle1 : if you are going for exact copies I would take cuttings, but if you just want more trees then seeds are the way to go. I would still try the cuttings though, you never know what you might end up with.
Lorraine: Inside would be better because the heat zaps the plants energy as well as the water does not bind with the nutrients as well as when the temps are kept between 68 and 72 degrees. I know you are getting the heat more so than I am but over 90 is still too hot for me. You amy want toinvest in another airstone,tubing and a manafold to increase the air in the solution.
We have 5 2 in denver and we haven't seen them in forever and then the 2 plus qfoster as well as one on the way. I would not like to be in the van on long trips. Grand kids are great wind um up and send em home to mom and dad... LOL... I like chocolate, ice cream and mountain dew .... he he he he..... Caleb is 3, mercy will turn one shortly, julian the foster kid will turn 1 next month. I hate the fact that mom is still fighting for custody when she knows she really shouldn't have it. Its hard to raise a kid in jail. Julian has already bonded with my step daughter and son - in - law. I jsut pray the tossing arround won't screw him up mentally, If you know what I mean
I am hopeing to do DIY on a aeroponics as well as the "bubbles". Bubbles remind me of NEMO. We ran it 3 time over the past few days. One thing is to darken the solution tank to lessen the algea growth in there, Also keep the temperature down in the 68 to 72 degree range.
There are 9 flies in the kitchen. Which one is the cow boy?
TTYL
Dave

What's the answer to the flies joke Dave?

Jeanette

The one on the range... LOL... Home home on the range....

ha ha.