Best media mix to pot rooted conifer cuttings.
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5 years ago
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waynedanielson
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Best Potting Media/Planting Mix for Large Containers
Comments (16)Hi Laura: As Jacqueline, Tessie, and JeriJen often said: "location, location ...." Tapla's recipe of 5 parts fine mulch, 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite is best for climate like mine: low-sun, flash flood warning and fast drainage is a must. It is recommended by Douglas Green, an owner of a large Ontario nursery of many plants in pots, including roses. If I use Al's 5-1-1, there is no need to put loose gravels or bark nuggets at the bottom for fast drainage. However, I use super-slow draining MiracleGro in green bag, and medium-slow draining Organic MiracleGro. I skipped this important process of putting loose stuff at the bottom, and regret it terribly. Now I have to dump the soil out of each pot, and start all over. I realize this after a heavy-rain simulation with a hose, with the pot flooding over and loses 1" of soil - which happens every time it rains here! Sure, Field Roebuck said it's not important, just put a paper towel at the bottom of the pot, and fill up with soil. His Texas climate doesn't have the low-sun, and 6" of rain flash flood. Each region should have its own recipe of best potting soil. Now I realize that the regular MiracleGro potting soil (green bag) might have been made for indoor pots, where one puts 1 measly cup of water per week. It's not meant for several outdoor heavy thunderstorms with 4 to 6" of rain per bout like my climate....See MoreRooting conifer cuttings (Practice)
Comments (29)Barbara, Thanks for the vote of confidence! I do not recommend causing anymore injury/open wounds on the basil end and/or stem of the cuttings as this is an avenue for infectious diseases to enter the stem tissue. Always use very sharp pruning clippers when taking the cuttings. Sterilize these clippers also. A clean cut leaves no ragged tissue upon which disease can enter the cuttings. The chemical rooting compounds generally do contain a fungicide. I prefer liquid rooting compounds which normally require soaking the basil end of the cuttings for a given period of time. There are different strengths/concentrations of these compounds depending upon whether you are propagating herbaceous or the many stages of woody materials. Powdered rooting compounds tend to excessively clump on the basil end of the cutting which burns the tissue and disease sets in which can contaminate your other cuttings in the propagation media. Follow the instructions on the label. When collecting cuttings, do not let the basil end of the cuttings become contaminated. Think clean from beginning to end. For those of you who want the no nonsense advice, use my e-mail address above....See Morebest cutting propagation media?
Comments (58)Potting mix is mostly pine bark (composted at least to some degree, though sometimes our potting mix was still composting, which used to drive me batty). It also holds fertiliser, which is not suitable for a cutting mix. Cutting mixes should contain no fertiliser. Cutting mix holds air and water, probably in higher amounts than a potting mix. And it also acts as a 'holder'. It anchors the cuttings. Plus, it allows roots to travel through it, as though they were growing in the ground. I mention this because I do not like to root things in water. The roots have no 'structure' to them when you take the cutting from the jar. They just all stick together. When you empty a pot of rooted cuttings which have been rooted in a good cutting mix, you can shake the mix from the roots very well, in gentle motions. This allows you to then pot up that cutting with its roots nicely splayed. Of course, some people just shove them in - I've seen it. It makes my head hurt. I'd rather waste time (in their book) and arrange the young plant to my liking. Potting mix just won't give you (or more correctly, the plant) as good a root system....See MoreTime to pot rooted conifer cuttings?
Comments (10)" have you tipped any out.. to see if there are any roots??? " no, I wasn't planning on fooling with them until it was time to pot up. Once you break them out of the media, I figure they are either going to get potted or thrown. I'm not going to try to put the ones without roots back in the media. " so what [difference[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/time-to-pot-rooted-conifer-cuttings-dsvw-vd~5420424) would a month make??? " Makes no difference, just trying to figure out the best way to get this done. Some are looking like algae is growing around them and some have some browning tips on branches and dead needles. Some look like they might be growing new sprouts. ??? There are only ~14 cups so not something I want to drag out over the fall. My media has been moist and mixed for 2 weeks so I think it's good to go. I can work in the garage on a raised area by the steps....See MoreUser
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5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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