Last year was my first full-born effort at rooting (after 2 years of experimenting), and I had really good success. Took 450 cuttings, and I now have 410 rooted roses. I am using coir medium along with a cheap HD timer and some misters I got off of EBAY. I bought a cheap plastic shelf system from Target, and placed the cuttings on the shelf. Misters are tied up to the shelving and ran from 8:00 am to about 7:00 pm, on 2 minutes off 10. I also have about 50 rooted cuttings in the basement right now from cuttings I received from Univ Cal-Davis on 11/4/05. I am using a "bastardized" version of the process George Mander has explained numerous times here. Biggest difference is I again am using coir. Here is a link to show you a rooted cutting I got from UC-Davis in November. Please note it had just received one of its daily mistings. I do this to cut down on mites. Here is a link that might be useful: Rooted cutting received 11/4/05 from UC-Davis

Interesting dialogue, especially about the various dealers. My screen name has "upland" in it, but it refers to the city where I live, I have never visited Upland Nurseries. Anyway, about rooting cuttings. I am far from an expert, just a casual hobbyist. So, anything I say is worth what you pay for it, and not a penny more. One thing that needs to be stressed is that the cutting should be well calloused before planting. I never tried the water method? But, my ritual is to break out cuttings in about March and plant in Miracle Grow potting soil. For me it is a percentage game, some varieties survive better than others but I probably average over 80% success. My cuttings are pruned in early winter after leaves fall, and I do it with an eye towards appearance and general conformation of the parent donor tree. I try to use cuttings that have bloomed the previous summer and have three, (or more) growing tips. This pretty much means that I won't see an inflow until the next year, but occasionally, I get lucky. The advice about withholding water is good, but I look for growth in the tips, and the fact that I can't always keep from a little water, once in a while. As I said above, I'm a little more casual; I have never used sterilized cutting instruments. And, still, I am moderately successful. I have never waited four years for an inflow, not sure I would be that patient. I just don't see where rooting cuttings is a huge effort? Of course, mine do not represent a monetary investment so if a couple don't survive, <shrug> Not a big deal. Good luck in your efforts. El Bee in Upland

I had a similar situation to you - I tried to propagate a schefflera I received from a funeral - and foolishly took just a cutting off a petiole before I understand the biology of the plant enough to realize that it was a petiole and not a "branch". It looks like I might have taken mine a month or two after yours. It took a very long time to see much happening below, but given that the leaves weren't withering and looked healthy I hadn't given up -- and as of this morning I looked at the bottom of the plastic dixie cup I stuck it in to root and was surprised to finally see the tail ends of some roots poking around. So I believe the petiole CAN root, if you're lucky - I just have no idea what that means for the plant after it establishes a root base. I'm pretty sure the petiole/leaf structure at the top is not going to do much else, so my hope is that the roots eventually send up a new trunk/stem along side it. Time will tell. Hopefully by now you've determined if you have similar luck with your petioles.

You have a lot of options to consider, but IS getting pretty late to chop it back hard or do any serious pruning. I mean, you really don't want to remove all the plant's food-making factories (leaves) just as it's about to take a break for the winter. Where you live has an impact on what your realistic present time options are, so maybe we should find that out at this point & then figure out what to do/ what you can do. Adding your zone and state or city/state to your user info will help others give you the most specific advice, so you might consider that option. Al