kandm, everything the seed needs for germination, forming those first roots and the seed leaves (cotyledons) is contained in the seed....very efficient packaging :) They need nothing but moisture and warmth until after the first true leaves emerge, and then only a very weak water soluble fertilizer applied sparingly....approx 1/4 the strength stated on the package directions.

Well, experiment didn't work so well, it seems... the bit that I had sticking down into the honey mixture has turned brown on each plant, and I had forgotten to bag them, so they're totally droopy and not looking so good... I have put the suckers into some potting mix and bagged the three of them, so hopefully they'll perk back up. :( I was so excited.

Of course! Why wouldn't they be? If you're worried about it, however, next time just use pure honey instead of rooting hormone. To make rooting hormone soak the yellow-tipped shoots of a weeping willow tree in water. A tea made from the bark of a willow tree is also effective. When using the shoots or bark soak them for 24 hours prior to using. Rooting hormone is usually sold as indole butyric acid (IBA). It simply encourages the cuttings to form new roots.

Hi there all of you! Look I am a REAL amateur...and am growing roses.. and am rooting them... and its not hard at all. I tried to root about 5 cuttings...last fall and all of them budded...and leafed. I made a couple of mistakes...but I learned... and ONE...is alive..and growing. Hereis how: Old grandmothers..knew. That was my first lesson. How do you think they shared with neighbors? Well, just like me. I cut off the rose..in the fall... and I stuck the cuttings in juice bottles..with water.. They developed roots...little ones...and several didn't...but they all leafed. Its the " where you cut "..that is important. Amazing eh? I kept two of the smaller bottles..like olive bottles..( because they had cuttings only 5 inches high) in my bathroom window near the open window..( cracked open about 1 inch) These leafed in spring. The others also leafed. I merely took the ends...which had little roots.. and several didn't...( these I just dipped in rooting hormone and dipped a pencil in the dirt..and planted the branch) and planted them..in dirt you buy from wallmart..or anywhere : Potting Soil. I placed them outside. Lesson one: Don't put them down on a deck...Squirrels dig. Lesson two...you might lose some..to something that turns the branch dark...and they die. Lesson...several make it! This fall...I will do it again. Happy rooting!