I'm strangely tempted...

Do you have a 'want' list, to give us an idea of what you're looking for? Or maybe a 'have' list so we can see what kinds of things you like, but already have?

Msbatt,

I posted a partial list of things I have on the related tropical exchange post:

I do have other things I can root at this point: Deppea splendens, Agapetes serpens, Fuchsia boliviana Alba, Brugmansia sanguinea (blooming), Rhodochiton atrosanguineum, Dicentra scandens, Chlorophytum amaniense 'Fireflash', Philodendron 'Prince of Orange', Monstera deliciosa albo variegata, Homalocladium platycladum, Petunia exserta (seeds), Abutilon megapotamicum, Darmera peltata, Centaurea gymnocarpa, Isopogon formosus, Correa baeuerlenii, Iris confusa, Roldana (Senecio) petasitis, Correa baeuerlenii, Salvia wagneriana, etc...

I have never made up a list of things I'm looking for. Off the top of my head I've been looking for Stanhopeas (orchids), also Angrecoid orchids that can tolerate my conditions. Another orchid I'm looking for is Coelogyne usitana. Other indoor plants would include Nepenthes, interesting Aroids (but not the big ones, and probably mostly indoor ones), less common Hoyas, etc... Oh, there's a yellow furry Deppea relative that I'd like to get (I forget it's name right now).

Most of the things on your list I have/will have a lot of (i.e. vines) or am not really growing at the moment (Brugmansias). Most of my remaining outdoor space will probably be filled once I get more Passifloras. I'll email you, though.

FYI: I grow D. imperialis and will tell you - the cuttings do not grow easily - they rot. I hope you will do some research on how to root D. imperialis cuttings before you try it. I've tried, many times, to root cuttings and it didn't work for me. Maybe you will have better luck than I did.

I think I would ask Mark to ROOT the cutting FOR YOU, then trade.

Hi Kayjones,

You raise an important point. Are your cuttings green or the big thick woody things like here? I would assume that these big cuttings need little external moisture to keep them alive. So it should be possible to attempt rooting in a drier environment than for a small cutting. I have not lived in Florida, but I get the impression that rot tends to be a much bigger problem in general than in California.

I'll ask around--I know a few people who grow the plant or work as propagators in the local botanical gardens. My impression always was that this plant is not generally a difficult one around here (which makes the Ebay prices all that more obscene).

If need be I can always Fall back on Annie's little plants (also nearby). I was there last weekend and noticed they were selling little Dahlia imperialis (possibly with minor frost damage?). They may have had more than one variety at their retail store--I don't remember. Their prices are cheaper and their availability greater than online.

I have to say your comment surprises me in light of the fact that the Ebay seller Strange Wonderful Things just sold two unrooted cuttings because they are (supposedly) so easy to root. He says "Cuttings root easily and reliably". He's usually pretty straightforward about these things.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jeff H.'s tips for rooting Dahlia imperialis cuttings.

Mark, I am only speaking from MY experience - I've been propagating from cuttings for MANY years, have a greenhouse and live in Florida - they are not easy to root, imho. I was just alerting a new gardener that wants this plant, so they don't spend money to send a plant for a cutting, only to have the cutting rot - not fair. Why don't YOU root the cutting and trade it as a growing plant?

kayjones,

If my intent were to have rooted cuttings immediately of this plant I would go to Annie's and get one for a couple dollars. Plants would have cost close to the same as these cuttings (i.e. not much), and be easier to ship.

If for whatever reason I send someone one of these, it fails, but they really want to grow the plant, then obviously I could buy a rooted plant at Annie's. Or whatever the solution is.

The whole point of this is that it should be fun.

If you have failed with cuttings that are not big woody things like these your experience is certainly worth noting and appreciated, but perhaps not relevant.

I am not trying to be argumentative, Mark. I have been a novice trader and so have you, and have been lead to believe a plant was 'easy', when it wasn't - I was out a plant AND money. I was just being honest with my experiences in trying to root these cuttings, so a newby wouldn't be upset if he/she traded for the cutting and it did rot.

I was merely mentioning that this cutting is not as easy as it sounds to root. You are turning this into a negative when it is meant to be a positive. WHY would this information NOT be relevant? Are you telling me you wouldn't want to know if the possibility existed that it could rot instead of root?

Bottom line: I've committed to getting Dahlia imperialis in a living form to whomever gets this.

Relevance: Trying to root thick woody cuttings should be compared to trying to root thick woody cuttings. It may be in fact impossible with thinner or greener growth for all I know.

I always stick cuttings in Nov., when the weather gets around 40 degrees, so the cuttings have been growing all season, therefore, they are woody cuttings from the bottom to the middle and green from the middle to the top - I stick them all.

I went ahead and picked up the insurance plant:

{{gwi:31443}}

I got a different color/form so as to not end up with a whole bunch of identical plants.

The color code of the pink tag from Annie's means that the plant was $5.50. There's a lot of material for cuttings, so I'll be trying a few of those. If I can, I'll divide it up into 2 or more plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlia imperialis 'Double White' from Annie's

I looked at this post execting a joke. The subject sounds like a story is coming. Then I noticed you have monstera deliciosa albo varagata. I have lots of tropicals and maybe a orchid I can trade for a rooted piece. Email me if your interested.

I don't understand why people are getting upset. Sometimes (often?) rare plants can be available by cuttings only - I can certainly understand why the OP would not want to be bothered with spending the effort rooting it for himself, if he doesn't want to keep it.
If you don't think you can root it, then get one elsewhere. No big deal.
This is a very nice opportunity, for those who understand what it takes to get / collect rare plants. Just my humble 2 cents.

PS - My post was not / is not intended to offend, or upset anybody. I'm just saying that some people may not be a good fit for this plant. There are things that I can't grow, and whether or not it's rooted, won't make a difference in my success.
Cheers!

A guy from UPS came by and it seems the stick is far too big for his box. So he took it home and will try to grow it. He finds it hard to believe it could turn into a tree. We'll report back on his results.

{{gwi:31445}}

I'm keeping one stick and will plant it soon. Interestingly, the dormant leaf buds are starting to grow bigger.

A third stick is still available.

This post just makes me smile :o)

Hahahahahahhahahahhaha
We have one going through a UPS stage too.

Around here they sometimes sell "little dead sticks" at the garden and home shows. Some people call them Plumeria and have great success with them.