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Cutting roots end to end. What to do?

16 years ago

I stared rather thick cuttings 7 1/2 inches long in plastic bags on top of my fridge. When they were covered with initials I put them in clear cups of vermiculite. A couple of them now have a mass of roots from end to the very end.

Only about 3/4 of an inch was above the vermiculite and the roots were coming out of that. I just re potted into a tall soda bottle leaving only about an 1/8 of an inch showing and still there are roots above the vermiculite. There is no sign of green anywhere. I'm not positive which end is up but it doesn't seem to make any difference since both ends are covered with roots.

What to do? All suggestions welcomed.

Peg

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Comments (7)

loslunasfarms
16 years ago
Peg, I would pot the rooted cutting now if the roots are at least 3/4". Don't worry about the roots showing outside the vermiculite as long as the cutting is right-side up. I would get pre-moistened potting soil (not to wet) that has been fluffed in a bucket and put some in the bottom of a pot, put in the cutting and crumble soil on it and cover with plastic letting it breath a couple hours day.. Do not water it by pouring water on it. I drizzle or water by misting with a spray bottle. I have found that using water like from a hose or watering with lots of water at once compresses the soil and causes rotting. I havent lost a cutting yet doing this. You have my email peg, email me if you have any questions.
peg919
Original Author
16 years ago
Jose,
I'm not in any danger of losing the cutting and I don't want to pot it in soil until I see some green. As I said, I cannot tell which end is up because it is entirely covered with roots.

Peg
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Thank you for your help! I left the cutting in the pot and took the glass jar off. It seems to be doing fine, growing 4 very small leaves. It is still pretty small though. The air root grew all the way to the soil level and into it. I gave the cutting a gentle tug and it definitely doesn't want to come out, though I do not see any roots coming out of the bottom, but then again, that pot is pretty big. The cutting is still in vermiculite/perlite mix, should I move it to a potting mix so the new plant can get some nutrition or is it better off developing more and stronger roots in the original mix? Should I feed it? I would really hate to kill it after all this time and work! I also read that it should not be moved into its permanent location untill next spring. How do I overwinter it? I have a cold frame, would that be a good place? Or can I leave it in its pot and keep it in the house till next spring? I do appreciate your help. I am very new to this. Grow
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loslunasfarms
16 years ago
Peg, could you post some picts so we can give better advice. Thanks.
elder
16 years ago
I would lay them horizontally in potting soil, covering as many roots as possible while leaving about one third of the cutting exposed. Try to have a bud or two on the exposed (upper) side.
pitangadiego
16 years ago
See Roots end to end and Roots for Leon
gene_washdc
16 years ago
Peg,
I agree with Elder. Just lay it on its side, very lightly covered, or with top ridge exposed. Arrange so that at least one bud (spot where the leaf was previously attached) is facing up. If cutting is too long to lay flat in your pot, cut it in half and have two (or three) plants. I've done this myself several times.
peg919
Original Author
16 years ago
Gene,
This is Kathleen's Black. Never saw anything root so fast!

The problem is the roots surround the stem with no spaces inbetween and are perpendicular to the stem extending at least 2 inches straight out and stiff. If I lay it on it's side I'll need to cover it with more than two inches of soil to cover the roots. I can see what I THINK is one node and that is in the middle and shows no sign of greening. There are so many roots there is no place to hold on to it.

Sure is a problem for me. What happens if its planted upside down. I don't think it is but just in case?

Thanks for the suggestions.

Peg

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