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Wilting cuttings

18 years ago

I am taking cuttings for the first time using Oasis media wedges. I soaked the new cuttings in water for several hours after severing from the pot root then inserted into the Oasis wedges. A number are wilting badly. There is lots of water in the surround container. Is this usual or is there some secret I am not aware of? I do not have a cover over the cuttings nor have I sprayed them. It has been 30 hours since I took the cuttings and I just added bottom heat. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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Comments (2)

corgicorner
18 years ago
I have never worked with Oasis wedges, but a couple of things come to mind. These are my own thoughts, and others may have different ideas.
#How long are your cuttings? You should not have to have over 2" of stem below the bottom leaves. You can have more, but 2" is sufficient.
#If they have a lot of leaves, I would take off all but three or four leaves, and bury them up to the bottom leaves. Be sure that there are some nodes where you removed leaves on the stem that you are burying--this is where the roots will come from.
#Spraying AND covering them ( use a newspaper if nothing else) certainly would help.(I'm assuming you have them in sunlight.)
#If your cuttings are small, try covering them with a "clear" plastic cup. Makes the situation similar to a greenhouse, but be careful if they are in the sun because it could roast the cuttings. Give them lot of light, but not direct sun.
#Try my suggetions on some of them, and do the rest if things are to your satisfaction.
Hope you have good success.
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crdahlia
18 years ago
I've started cuttings in Oasis for several years. What was your purpose for soaking the cuttings in water before putting them in the Oasis? Was the Oasis totally soaked before you inserted them? The water should come up about to about 2/3 of the Oasis. Most likely the wilt comes from having no dome or not misting them. The leaves need the humidity. Gordy Leroux (originator of Kenora dahlias) got me started and he doesn't use a dome, but does mist regularly. I use a dome and rarely mist. Are they under lights? They need to be, but that shouldn't cause them to wilt after 30 hours. After I take the cutting, I put in the Oasis immediately. My cuttings take about 14 days to root. Were they in direct sun? That could also cause them to wilt.

Teresa
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