those dried up aerial roots on the lower stem are dead - they will not grow.

they need to be springy and fleshy to take.

and there are no leaves on that portion of the stem... it's risky, I think to try to propagate the stenm with no leaves. not to say it can't be done..but it's very slow.

I noticed that the fastest and ONLY fast growing aerial roots are at the tip where the new leaf is. So, what I do I wrap some moist sphag there and in 2 weeks max I have good roots - I cut it off, ready to plant.

now wait a month for new shoot to start, sometimes it's even 2! wait until it gets a good size leaf or two: repeat with sphag, etc (another month?).

slowly you will be reducing the main stem, while there are still leaves on it - so in FL the process is quite fast. and if it branches - then you're lucky to double up the speed.

but there's MORE :)

The fastest way to get good aerial roots all over is to ensure 100% humidity: put a giant dry-cleaners bag on the plant (tent it) - it will then produce aerial roots all over and they will be fresh - then you can cut away pieces of stem that have a couple leaves each with roots, several at once.

that procedure will shorten the main stem and force it to bud lower. the growth will be faster when you have at least a couple of leaves alive, not a bare steam though.

So, in short: I don't think it's good to just cut up pieces for propagation as is : I found that often the main stem will rot even when it has old aerials. While when you root the tip or pieces with fresh aerials it's guaranteed to take.

the added bonus is that new growth might come out pink - so more attractive right away.

Do you THINK that cuttings WITH leaves, 2-3 leaves, and a portion of stem 2-3" would they take root?? Or is it only the tip that is 'rootable'? I have an 'air layered' part half way up the stem, it is over 1 yr old now. It is still in the Saran Wrap, and it was full of roots in the sphagnum moss, it rooted in like 2 weeks, but I never cut it off, it has now another 2 feet from that point.

Could that part be alive?? Or is it to old to be viable? The moss is bone dry. I know that much. I have tried to keep it wet, but it is not moist or wet.

>>Could that part be alive?? Or is it to old to be viable?

the stem is alive of course. but you need to unwrap it to touch the roots: are they dry and brittle? if so it's like no roots at all.

>>Do you THINK that cuttings WITH leaves, 2-3 leaves, and a portion of stem 2-3" would they take root

they will root, unless the cut sides of the stem rot before that :). that's the tricky part : how to keep the cut part from rotting. it needs to calluse for 1-2 weeks after cutting, but leaves need moisture or they will wilt...

what I have done is this: do an air-layering wrap with moist sphag as usual over 3 nodes then cut on both sides. put a plastic bag over the leaves, but leave the cut ends exposed. dust them with fungicide. then wait for roots to appear. by that time the cuts should heal and then you'll be able to plant it.

of course, it is better to wait a week after wrapping so that at least some nubs can develop in sphag before you cut. bit even if you don't wait and tent the leaves, it should root in time. but you'll need to keep sphag moist at all times.

I suggest trying this on one -two pieces, not the whole stem. just to see how it will go for you.

to get to any of the stem, I would have to cut off the top section. So I WAS selling the sections, everyone wants cuttings. BUT during delivery, I KNOW the leaves, (they are over 12in long, and the stems on the leaves, are 8in long), will snap off. SO i wanted to know if the stem alone will root. I cant think of a way to ship the stem with the leaves and not have them snap off. So...thus my question. I NEED to sell this ASAP, but i dont want to screw people over. I do want them to get plants from cuttings. Now I am lost as to a solution.

>> SO i wanted to know if the stem alone will root.

and I don't have a perfect 100% guarantee answer for you: it depends whether your buyer can provide perfect conditions, prevent rot AND wait 2-3 months...

>> I cant think of a way to ship the stem with the leaves and not have them snap off.

charge more for shipping, put it in a large box, pack with shredded paper...take care to ship..what more can you do? good luck!

>> I NEED to sell this ASAP

great! sell the whole plant then to local grower who can pick it up!

I've done my best to answer your questions : if the procedure is not right for you or for your customers, then don't do it.

do you expect to order your plant to grow ASAP , 'cause you need it?!

thanks for the information.

I have a follow up question, when you:

>>I noticed that the fastest and ONLY fast growing aerial roots are at the tip where the new leaf is. So, what I do I wrap some moist sphag there and in 2 weeks max I have good roots - I cut it off, ready to plant.

Do you just plant the new cutting (with roots) directly in the potting medium or do you let the cut end callous over first? If the latter, how do you keep the roots moist so they don't dry out?

Thanks!

I will chime in:

I do root philo's with thick stems and unless you callus the cut it will mildew and can rot. so I devised to put it in a shallow plastic tub with a large hole in the bottom :) and I stick the stem thru that hole so it's in the air and I then put the tub into another empty pot and keep it this way for a month or more until I am ablsolutely sure that the cut healed. and I fill the tub with soil mix, of course.

and then when the roots are good and the cut is dry I uppot into a bigger pot without disturbing the mix, just fill the bottom and sides around it.

That's a great idea- I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Petrushka, when you put the cutting in the tub with the cut end sticking out of the hole in the bottom do you put soil in the tub then? I'm wondering how you keep the cutting from drying out then no longer being viable. Thanks,

Deanna

of course I put soil in the tub and I said so in the post :). I also make sure that the piece that sticks out does not touch the bottom of the 2nd empty pot, so as to keep it dry . some water will dribble down it when watering, but that's ok so long as it hangs free and remains dry.

Hi! I have my new PPP cut It has 3-5 inches aerial roots. and I immediately planted it in soil. A friend advised me not to water it for a week. Will the stem grow roots? Thank you!

Anything you’ve just potted up needs watering. Soak thoroughly and then leave it to drain.