skip to main content

Plant Propagation

am I killing my cuttings?

18 years ago

Never tried to propagate anything before until a friend gave me a couple of cutting from his butterfly bushes. I used a rooting hormone and stuck them in 4" pots filled with potting soil. I have two seperate groups. The majority of them are in an old 55 gal aquarium with the lights on 24hr a day and about 1/4" of water in the bottom of the tank. I also have a couple sitting in the kitchen on saucers that I keep a little water in(no direct sunlight). I noticed some mold on the soil of the pots in the kitchen along with some brown spots on the leaves of the cuttings. The ones in the aquarium looked ok but possibly begining to do the same. Obviously to much water not enough light in the kitchen.

My question is should I pull the cuttings out and add a little vermiculite to the potting soil to help with the mold or should I just adjust my watering habits to account for the fact that the potting soil really soaks up and holds water? The cuttings I'm guessing have started to take root because I can see what I believe is the begining of new leaves forming. Mold and brown spot is only affecting maybe 20% of the cuttings. I took a nail and poked holes in the soil around the cuttings to try and improve oxygen for the roots and obviously none of them are sitting in water at the moment, I'm just not sure if this is enough or if it would cause more damage to pull the cutting out once roots have begun to form. The cuttings have only been potted for 2 weeks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
18 years ago
If I were to start cuttings of buddeia I would not use dormant wood. Soft wood that has just firmed up I think would be the best bet. Perlite heavy mix and rootone and tent the container. I would not check for roots for at least 6 weeks. Al
0
zachf
18 years ago
You can add sand to the potting mix. That should help make the soil drain better. If there is mold on the soil it is most likely too wet. I don't know how you have the 4" pots placed in the aquarium but if you have them directly in the water that wouldn't be good. Putting crushed stone or gravel under the pots would be a good idea if you haven't already done so. You may have to pull up the cuttings to check for rot and discard any rotted cuttings. Plants also don't need 24 hours of light, 14 is plenty. So if you do adjust the soil and repot them use some Rootone and hopefully they will root.
0
Related Discussions
I think I am killing my rhododendrons. HELP!!!
Q
Comments (1)
It's possible that an excess amount of fertilizer/wrong type of fertilizer did damage the root system. In any case, mid-July is too late for fertilizing. A late flush of soft growth will not have enough time to harden off before winter. Fertilizing in the first year after planting - or any other time - without a soil test indicating a need for it is never a good idea. The weather conditions you describe are ideal for phytophthora infections, but those that effect the roots would be nearly impossible to diagnose from looking at a leaf. Poor drainage is probably the number one cause of root rot problems, so anything that can be done to improve it would be worthwhile. Do cut back to healthy green tissue and be patient. The presence of buds is a good sign and it's highly likely that the rhododendrons will recover.
...See More
I think I just killed most of my cuttings
Q
Comments (10)
Updates on my various cuttings These are the ones that cooked. They haven't shriveled up yet (except one, which was growing from a mostly dead leaf already) and I'm not sure I can see any new growth. The roots look almost okay. The same day that happened, I pulled off some Graptoveria Moonglow leaves to propagate and replace the leaves I'd killed. This time just left them on a piece of paper in a box, no water, just indoor light. And look! You can barely see in the photo but the first three on the bottom have some really tiny growth. The biggest has about four roots going out, the second has a single leaf, and the third has a leaf and roots growing. Lastly, dropped leaves I might have grabbed from the nursery, which had already been developing roots when I found them. Top is E. Pearl von Nuremburg and bottom is E. Chroma, which seems to have exploded tons of roots and what looks like three stems with rosettes. The Pearl von Nuremburg is growing slower, but I find the one giant leaf it has funny.
...See More
I am killing my hoya. (2)
Q
Comments (5)
Leonie, I don't think your plant is taking up water for some reason. But the stems still look healthy, so if I were you, I'd take cuttings and repot the main plant (cut back) into fresh soil, a very loose mix. Make sure it's in a pot only slightly larger than the rootball. Keep it in a bright but shady spot for awhile, until you see new growth on the main plant. There's a good chance your cuttings will root and possibly rehydrate after they root. I have a Hoya latifolia I got a couple years ago that stopped taking up water and got very wrinkled, dehydrated leaves. In a last ditch effort to save it, I cut the main plant clear back to two leaves and rooted the cutting (which was also only two leaves.) I ended up losing the main plant, but the cutting rooted and then slowly, the leaves on it plumped back up. For a whole year, it did nothing - it was just two leaves. This spring, it seems to be taking off. Sometimes it takes a lot of patience to save an ailing plant, but when you're done, those are the ones you're most proud of! Denise in Omaha
...See More
I am pretty sure I killed my new grape vines.
Q
Comments (2)
Not sure what your climate is - however, I'll share my own experiences with Thompson and Chardonnay types. The Thompson was planted on an arbor - this is it's 3rd spring. Actually, It didn't look like it was going to survive either. Some one said they get "Pierce" disease, and I assumed that was the problem. The main vines got all spotty - and the leaves looked awful. I learned grapes need severe pruning - (90 %) - so whacked it pretty hard and said a prayer. This spring - I tossed some aged chicken manure at it - even tho it looked almost dead. Well - the sun came out - the weather got warmer and now the entire arbor is full of vines. So maybe it's just a quirk - but for now I'm hopeful. The Chardonnays are in another spot - an arbor next to the house that reflects southern sunshine - and is looking very well. My only concern is - that my location - 6 blks from the ocean - with summer fog - may not be to their liking. But who knows - perhaps this year they will be stronger. I suspect they like a lot of heat. bejay
...See More
wolfus
18 years ago
Another good free draining amendment to your soil is a product used to absorb oil on driveways and garage floors. I use Oil Dri (Dri Zit is another name) in my Bonsai soil. There is one of them I believe the Oil Dri that has one of it's uses printed on the bag to add to your potting soil for house plants. The product is made from Georgia Fullers Earth (clay) and hard fired so it doesn't decompose.

Hope ya good luck,
David
0

Related Stories

HOUSEPLANTS 8 Houseplants You Can't Kill

By J. Peterson Garden Design

They're forgiving and let you forget. Houseplants don't get any easier than this

MOST POPULAR The Perfect Houseplant for People Who Kill Houseplants

By creative jewish mom.com

If you can fill a jar with water, you can keep golden pothos vine happy — and it will pay you back with cleaner air and a greener home

COLOR When Color Could Kill: Stories From the History of Paint

By Victoria Finlay

Delve into paint's storied past — what you learn about its history and modern incarnations may surprise you

GARDENING GUIDES 7 Ecofriendly Gardening Ideas That Also Cut Chore Time

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spend less time weeding, less money watering and more moments just sitting back and enjoying your healthy garden

HOME OFFICES Quiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home

By Christine Ciarmello

Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up

DECORATING GUIDES Wicker Style: Cottage to Cutting Edge

By Becky Harris

Find Wicker for Every Look, From Classic Porch Chair to Spaceship Daybed

FLOWERS Best Cutting-Garden Beauties for Late Summer

By Paintbox Garden

Pick blooms bursting with color or in classic white for bouquets to give away or keep all to yourself

THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE Laser-Cut Focus: The Future of Design Is Here

By Jess McBride

Discover how this laser technology can make almost any pattern a reality

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Counters: Try an Integrated Cutting Board for Easy Food Prep

By Christine Tusher

Keep knife marks in their place and make dicing and slicing more convenient with an integrated butcher block or cutting board

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Chop Chop! 20 Cutting Boards Too Good to Miss

By Add a Pinch | Robyn Stone

Any way you slice it, these cutting boards, chopping blocks and serving boards are both artful and practical

Sponsored

Landscape Management Group

29 Reviews

High Quality Landscaping Services in Columbus

More Discussions

Will rose petals form roots?

10

Potting pothos from water to earth

0