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formontcalamus · 12-22-2007, 12:54 AM

I have been experimenting with and commercially rooting cuttings for 30 years. I cannot aford to have rooting fail because that may mean several days work and thousands of plants wasted. I often read here and on other groups how people loose valuable plants because they make major mistakes in thier methods. So, here goes . . . I will expose the secrets of the professionals ! First secret . . . There is no one way, every grower does rooting a bit different, even the professionals sometimes use methods that are complicated and un-necessary. In short . . "Its easy" !!

First importance: You must provide constant moisture to avoid rapid transpiration (foliage wilt).

Second: Too much moisture can cause root rot or stem rot befor rooting.

Third: The potting medium should be stirile or of non-active organic materials.

Fourth: Never try to root cuttings in full Sun or without light. Most plants need bright light but no burning Sun.

Fifth: Never try to root cuttings with full foliage left on the cuttings. Cut off (do not pull off by hand) leaves all except 3 or 4 at top of cutting, then cut thoes few leaves in half. A few plants will root best from cuttings with all leaves cut off and others may need a few leaves (so they can remember who they are).

If you are rooting only a few cuttings at a time, heres the very best medium to stick cuttings in. "Canadian Spagnum Moss" One small bag with 1/3 Pearlite. Wet Spagnum in a bucket, drain off excess water then add Pearlite and mix by hand. Stuff medium into 4" or 6" clean pots. Poke hole with knife into moss then stick cutting/s 1/3 deep. Never stick cuttings without poking an opening first or you will tear the bottom of the cutting causing rot.

Spagnum Moss holds many times its weight in water than soil creating its
own constant damp environment and (very important) Spagnum is naturally anti-fungus which protects cuttings from rot !!

Most "soft" stem house plants like Ivy's do not need this attention, will root in pre-baged potting mix. This formula is important for hardwood plants, heavy stem tropicals and thick branching species.

Example: Folow method above and stick 3 cuttings of your favorite Bougainvillea into one pot. One or two will root in 4 weeks at about 78*f. Bougainvillea roots best with cool nights 72-75*f. and days at 80-90*f. They like the rest of cool nights. Cuttings must be taken from the parent and stuck immediately. Bougainvillea will require misting about three times per day. (no vacations allowed untill rooted!).

We might get a usefull thread going here if y'all will tell us what you wish to root. I will come back and offer my experience and perhaps someone els will chip in with particular plant rooting experience !
Logos

12-22-2007, 12:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
formontcalamus Wholistic Naturalist Location: South Central Puerto Rico Zone: 11 Name: Logos (French/Greek) Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 58 BananaBucks : 58,972 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 13 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Rooting plants from cuttings . . . I have been experimenting with and commercially rooting cuttings for 30 years. I cannot aford to have rooting fail because that may mean several days work and thousands of plants wasted. I often read here and on other groups how people loose valuable plants because they make major mistakes in thier methods. So, here goes . . . I will expose the secrets of the professionals ! First secret . . . There is no one way, every grower does rooting a bit different, even the professionals sometimes use methods that are complicated and un-necessary. In short . . "Its easy" !! First importance: You must provide constant moisture to avoid rapid transpiration (foliage wilt). Second: Too much moisture can cause root rot or stem rot befor rooting. Third: The potting medium should be stirile or of non-active organic materials. Fourth: Never try to root cuttings in full Sun or without light. Most plants need bright light but no burning Sun. Fifth: Never try to root cuttings with full foliage left on the cuttings. Cut off (do not pull off by hand) leaves all except 3 or 4 at top of cutting, then cut thoes few leaves in half. A few plants will root best from cuttings with all leaves cut off and others may need a few leaves (so they can remember who they are). If you are rooting only a few cuttings at a time, heres the very best medium to stick cuttings in. "Canadian Spagnum Moss" One small bag with 1/3 Pearlite. Wet Spagnum in a bucket, drain off excess water then add Pearlite and mix by hand. Stuff medium into 4" or 6" clean pots. Poke hole with knife into moss then stick cutting/s 1/3 deep. Never stick cuttings without poking an opening first or you will tear the bottom of the cutting causing rot. Spagnum Moss holds many times its weight in water than soil creating its own constant damp environment and (very important) Spagnum is naturally anti-fungus which protects cuttings from rot !! Most "soft" stem house plants like Ivy's do not need this attention, will root in pre-baged potting mix. This formula is important for hardwood plants, heavy stem tropicals and thick branching species. Example: Folow method above and stick 3 cuttings of your favorite Bougainvillea into one pot. One or two will root in 4 weeks at about 78f. Bougainvillea roots best with cool nights 72-75f. and days at 80-90*f. They like the rest of cool nights. Cuttings must be taken from the parent and stuck immediately. Bougainvillea will require misting about three times per day. (no vacations allowed untill rooted!). We might get a usefull thread going here if y'all will tell us what you wish to root. I will come back and offer my experience and perhaps someone els will chip in with particular plant rooting experience ! Logos __________________ Love the Earth, Logos / Wholistic Naturalist / Married / Father of ten Cats / Sexual preference: Anything that moves / French-Greek ancestry / Special interests: Codiaeum (Crotons), Evolutionary behavior / Look to the examples of Nature to understand Humanity.