Survey on starting cuttings

I am interested in knowing how everyone start cuttings.

Now I have started a lot of cuttings . Many years ago before I know much and only had the epi oxy I just cut pieces off and stuck them in the pot of plain soil, water and most rooted. Either I was very lucky, or epi oxy is more hardy than other epis or as my mother says I have magic green fingers.

But now after "studying" every thing that I can find and starting over 100 cuttings, I am puzzled. I have found a number of ways of doing it. everything from putting the cutting in a pot of dry soil and not watering for a month to putting the cuttings in a pot and watering good and then leaving for a month. To a lot in between. And that not all cuttings will root the same way. I am beginning to think the way of rooting depends on the type of cuttings.
I have a fat top cutting that I have been fighting with over three months to get it to root and not rot. I think the plant was overwatered before the cutting was taken as I have never seen a epi "leaf" that flashy .

Tell my the best way that you root cuttings and what type of cuttings that you root.
Sandy

Pretty please. There has to be others out there that grow from cuttings. I would really like to learn more on the way that you all start your cuttings. I am experimenting with different ways of growing them and the best type of cutting to use to get the best plant.

And I am not planning on selling cuttings but will be happy to share cuttings as my plants get larger.

Thank you Sandy

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With orchid cactus and succulents, I let cuttings sit out to allow them to dry out and callous over a few days to a week before potting up, just because someone told me to do it that way many years ago. I use the same type of potting mix for almost all plants which is a mixture of Miracle Grow potting soil, lots of orchid bark and lots of perlite. It makes for a very chunky, fast draining mix and I think it allows for a lot more air circulation around the roots to keep them from rotting. I use a rooting hormone if I think about it ... most of the time I don't remember!

Thank you. That is one of the ways that I use.

What type of cuttings that you find your best results with. What I mean, top half, bottom half or the whole leaf/stem.

Also the thing that I am most interested in is how much do you water and when. There seems to be a lot of different ideas on this. The rooted plants need to be keep moist but there is different ideas on cuttings.

Sandy

Sandy, I'm not sure I'm understanding what you mean by the top half, bottom half, whole leaf stem. The part of the cutting I have always stuck in the soil is usually the end that I've broken off the mother plant (where it was attached to the mother plant.) I never even thought about taking one stem and cutting it into three or four pieces but I'm sure that would work too. I know people propagate other plants by cutting into a number of pieces and either sticking the cut end into soil or laying it on top of the soil with the leaf rib touching the soil and roots will grow from the rib. I will have to take a cutting from my E. hookeri tomorrow and experiment with trying different methods!

When it comes to watering cuttings, I try to keep them just barely moist at all times, not letting them dry out totally but not keeping them too wet which will promote rot. I don't have the problem of them staying too wet because of the chunky mix I use, it dries pretty quickly so I have to check them and water every other day. If we are having very hot, dry weather I will turn the hose on the mist setting and mist them every day to keep them from drying out.

I have received cuttings that where the top half or bottom half, some that are clearly the whole piece and some very weird shaped cuttings.

I have read everything that I can find. This is what I have read

1 place cutting in dry soil and leave a week/month.
2 water planted cutting and don;t water again until rooted
3 don't water just mist often. (this seems to be working wit my problem cutting)

See what I mean.
I am not going into soil mixes I have seen a dozen or more mixes.

Sandy

The reason that I am interested in the type of cuttings is in the results in growth. What type of cutting will result in the best plant for me or those I share with.

Say some one wants a cutting from ........"Clown or"King Midas" or what every, would it be better to send a whole leaf/stem or the top or bottom half of the leaf/stem. I am beginning to see some interesting growth patterns.

That is a really interesting topic. I hope others who are more knowledgeable about Orchid Cactus will pop in here with some input. I really don't know much about Epi's at all, with me it's all trial and error, I will stick cuttings and if they take root and grow I can't take a lot of credit for it ... sometimes they root and survive, sometimes not. I never really thought about what part of the leaf/stem would be the better choice to try and root. I've never bought cuttings of Epi's so the only experience I have is the few cuttings (maybe 5) I've received in trades and they were all @ 6-8" long stems/leaves.

I'm a frustrated scientist type on some things.
With as many cuttings as I have I have a lot of different types of cuttings. I have one that I know is planted right side up and it is rooted but it looks like it has a bunch of root like things coming from the top, but it is a Selenicereus megalaanthus and I know less about them than the epis.

I think I need to take pictures of each plant each month and start taking better notes. But with my dad health problems and my own. I have let up on my note keeping. Also thanks to those pesty squirrels I have about ten plants with out labels. Thankfully most had their names written on them.

The roots you see coming from the top are aerial type roots. Very common with any epiphytic plant. They put out those aerial roots looking for tree branches or something to cling to!

I know but this one is doing it very weirdly. Looks like a wild head of hair. This cutting looks like the center cut, both ends where cut. My other one seems to be a end cutting is not sending out the roots but new growth. So you see I am seeing different in the growth patterns of the different cuttings. I have some that are still not much more that rooted cuttings with little growth after 4-6 months and others the same age or newer that have a lot of growth. One I get this last spring I am getting ready to repot for the second time this summer.

I finally get onto Epiforums spent an hour on starting cuttings and I found out to much for my poor brain to get straighten out. I have to go think about what I have learned. I don't need any more epis oxy but I plan on taking different kinds of cuttings for my large one and try some of the ideas.

Wren: Do you have Epi hookeri? http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2100/ If you don't already have it and want cuttings just let me know!

I do not have that one, and I would like to have some. I was going to send you a message. I found a couple of broken off piece of American Beauty- one of the dragon fruits. I wont you to have first choose of a piece. They are around a foot each and I could cut each into two pieces.

I also get a large piece of epi, a large flowering purple, today at our get together. With most of it I am going to try different ways of rooting but I should have enough for a piece to send you. D-mail me with your address and I will send you mine.

Any one else who would like a piece of American Beauty let me know.

Wren: You have d-mail!

I was going to start a experiment, using cuttings taken from one of my Epi Oxy , on the different ways of starting cuttings. But my dad is back in the hospital. I way start it with a smaller number of cuttings.

From my reading I have found
3 different soils
river sand
perlit
same potting mix used to grow plants
3 ways of watering
Misting daily
watering once then not again until rooted
watering small along until rooted
3 ways of treating the ends.
no treatment
rooting powder
cinnamon(???)
a number of types cuttings type
Type no one talks about that much (Top, bottom, middle, new growth or older growth
Ways of planting cuttings
Up right
upside down
laying on side

If you use any of the ways please let me know and why

I have found that the cuttings taken from the mother plant mature much faster than the end cuttings I've bought. I have taken large branches , with a bit of the hardened stem on them, and had blooms the first year. I have bought cuttings that are end cuttings two years ago, and am still waiting. Those smaller ones were dried and in net bags, where the ones I cut myself were potted up within a couple of days. I use the rooting hormone and the water once, then not until dry method. As to losing tags, write on the plant with permanent marker!

Carol

thank you.

Most of mine have the name written on them. Just about 20 which came with their names on a label. All most all that I bough have been mature cuttings. I have only lost 3 out of a 100 so I am doing good but I am of a curious mind set. That's why I would like to know more.

What is the temp. at the time of rooting??

What was the soil that you used.

I still have 3 pieces of American Beauty (if you are interested in a piece send my a d-mail and I will mail you one) those darn squirrels did a number on this one but it is the weaker grower of the three dragon fruits that I have. I think it would do better as a hanging basket plant.

I had to trim one of my epis back. I had 21 cuttings so I did some experimenting. I used perlite on 4, vermiculite on 4, Sand on 2, my regular epi mix on 3 and 2 I put in water.
In the perlite two were freshly cut and 2 I allowed two callous over about 10 days. I did the same with the vermiculite.The reason I put fresh cuttings in perlite and vermiculite is they are inert. All except the ones I stuck in water were misted everyday and received a small amount of water in ten days.

All the perlite started rooting in about two weeks. The ones in just sand about 3 weeks. The ones in soil about 2 weeks. The vermiculite was a little over a week, but had the most vigorus root growth in 3 weeks. The ones in soil rooted in 2 weeks. The ones in water just started rotting so I cut the ends off let them harden over and stuck them in perlite.

The down side of some rooting mediums were perlite the roots grew through the perlite. The vermiculite you had to be very cautious with because of it's water holding capabilities and the vermiculite stuck to the roots so I couldn't get it off. The sand was just slow. The soil you also had to be cautious with because of its water retaining capabilities.

I know that doesn't add up to 21, the rest were stem cuttings so I let them go for a couple weeks before just sticking them in soil. I think they all worked (except water) not because of the soil but because it was growing season.

So if anyone just wants a rooted cutting I have 7 left of E. (sp) Strictum. lol The cuttings are not the most attractive things because they got a little cold last year. Most have leaves growing. Most are long enough to be cut in half for more cuttings. Otherwise I will have to trash them. I have other cuttings that need the room this winter. Just D-mail me.

I have had good success with epis when I let them callous over for about 10 days and then stick in potting mix (soil, perlite, peat, and vermiculite). Then I just set them in the shade and keep them from drying out completely. they usually root in about 3-4 weeks.

If anyone wants to trade, I have some purple star dragon fruit, vietnamese red dragonfruit, epi. strictum and epi oxypetalum. If you are interested, just dmail me.
Thanks, Linda

All of my Epies are in hanging baskets, in potting soil. I just repotted everything in Fox Farms Ocean Forrest. They are all unknown cuttings except the two I bought at the spring flower show last year. Oops! forgot the night blooming one. That is a large pot now on the ground, pretty much ignored. I haven't seen the flowers it gets in years, though its' first two years it bloomed in the day time. I'll try to attach a picture...does anyone know what it is?

Carol

I do not know what is is but it is lovely.

thanks for the info that is what I am looking for. I have a few ideas that i want to try once it gets back to normal around here.

Wow! That is a beauty! I don't know much about Epi's so I have no clue which one it is but how lucky to have a day bloomer so gorgeous!

Carol: The more I look at your beautiful photo, it sure looks a lot like E. Oxypetalum. Scroll down and click on some of these photo's in Plant Files: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/215474/

Although, I think E. Oxypetalum is a night bloomer, that one in your photo sure looks like a couple of the ones pictured.

I don't think it is E. Oxypetalum, notice that the long back petals are light pink. There is a number of white day bloomers. I have a book by Frank Supplie, I will dig it out tomorrow and also maybe by then Got Epis will be back on line. He has a number of whites. I am running out of steam, less that three hours of sleep last night. I think what every it is it is a very pretty flower.

Yeah, you are right Wren! Since Carol's plant is a day bloomer it can't be E. Oxypetalum. So many blooms look alike to me!

Hope your Dad is doing okay and you are able to get a good nights sleep!

I think I better hit the bed if I am going to get the cuttings in the mail. Me DS has come home to see dad . Good night.

No rush on sending mine Sandy, I know how hard it is having an ill elderly parent. Make sure you get rest and take care of yourself! So glad your sister is there with you.

Nitey Nite, Sweet Dreams,

Lin

The plant bloomed during the day its' first two years. The last three or four years it only blooms at night.
Carol

that is odd, it might be a hybrid of epi oxy and a day bloomer and can't make up its mind.. There is a little difference between it and the epi oxy that I have.

Oh, so there's more than one E. oxypetalum? One that is a day bloomer and one a night bloomer? I never realized that and I would sure love to find a day bloomer! I knew there were Epiphyllum's that were day bloomers while others strictly bloom only after dark but had no idea there were two different E. Oxypetalum's. Very cool.

If Carol's plant is E. oxypetalum I would love to find one like that! It is really gorgeous with those soft pink outer petals, and it looks like a soft pink inside the bloom too, unless it's just the light and camera! It sure is a pretty one!

No not two but a cross with something else. Oxy is a species I think. There may be a cross with a Oxy and some other type, that would explain the mixed up blooming of Carol's plant. But it is a very lovely flower.

Aha, hadn't even thought of that but I don't know anything about Epi's ... just that I am really loving them! I'm going googling now for mini epiphyllum's to see what I can find!

I think there are also some that grow smaller than others but not quit minis. As I said in the d-mail I think I saw them on Got epi web site.

Non of mine every grow as large as Epi Oxy.

I googled for mini's and found a couple listed on e-bay ... apparently it's not what I was thinking as mini. The plants pictured looked huge, just the bloom is smaller! I was thinking mini foliage and bloom!

Here's the one I saw on e-bay called Purple King: http://buy.ebay.vn/buying/en/display/330266553589_Epiphyllum-Orchid-CactusPURPLE-KINGA-Miniprofuse

One listed in PF as a mini but no photo's: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/120197/

and another but alas, no photo either: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/120771/

That does not look like a mini to me.

I mailed out the cuttings. I still have one piece of American beauty. It is young and thin but is about 8 inches, broken off after the others.. I also have a bounce of squirrels any one interested in either one let me know, I do not know what it is about this epi that the squirrels like but they broke of all but one of the new growths.

The mother plant was a fast grower but it is a lot thinner than the other of my dragon fruit. The growth was up right . I wonder if this one would do better in a cage or tied to a stake. Any one out there growing this epi? Let me know please if you if you do and how. The dragon fruit are new to me and the others are different than this one.

Wren,So you know which Dragon Fruit you have? I bet the squirrels like that fruit! I have heard that some dragon fruit is really tasty.

Googling I found this: http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/dragon/

There are 20 listed in Plant Files: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=hylocereus&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

It does not have fruit yet. I have not had it long enough for it to bloom.
That is a piece of it that I sent you. But it is the one epi that the squirrels seem to be knocking over all the time. The Country Road has a lot more thorns and is much thicker and it sprawls. I don't think even Andre the demon child(my dog) would mass with it. American graffiti is half way between the two, it is upright but thicker and the squirrels have only knocked it over once, only one piece was broken off and I rooted it. I did have one other cutting but it arrived just before a freeze and I put it and the other unplanted cuttings into the very small green house that I have and the water that formed on the plastic dripped on it and it rotted. I wont do that again.