Re: cuttings

Andrea, this is sort of like making frosting...."add a little coffee until it looks right" ;+)

I had shown my box in a MG propagation class. One of the interns and I
had lunch yesterday and she wanted to show me her box. She had V&P and
the cuttings floating in water. How to explain?


The medium should be just moist, like the medium for seed starting. I
add a little water and test by touch. One way to see if you've added too
much water is to look at the bottom of the box (that's why clear all
over is important) If there is any pool of water - water not soaked up
by the V&P - you've got too much and should drain it off. If no pool of
water and the medium is moist to the touch and is manipulatable*, it is
just right.


*By manipulateable I mean - stick a pencil in to make a hole and the
resulting hole should retain its shape. After you stick your cutting in,
you should beable to firm the medium around it. If it's too dry it won't
stay put.


When your medium is "just right" you won't need drainage holes. It's
like a terrarium. You'll see condensation on the box walls and inside of
lid, but when you open the box, the leaf surface of your cuttings will
be dry. And BTW, no part of any cutting should touch any other cutting
or any part of the box.


As I said, I'm no expert and I haven't really been all that successful,
but this system seems to be working for me. Please let me know if I
explained it well enough. And please - the rest of you with more
experience should chime in here. I don't want to steer her wrong. I,
too, would be glad for any tips and any corrections you have for waht
I've written.


Kitty

-- "hodgesaa@earthlink.net" <hodgesaa@earthlink.net> wrote:
Oh, what about drain holes? What do you do about keeping them from getting
too wet? 

Andrea H
Beaufort, SC
Well, I can change that if it will give me better
results....................


> [Original Message]
> From: Chapel Ridge Wal Mart National Hearing Center
<4042N15@nationalhearing.com>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 8/6/2005 12:39:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] cuttings
>
> I didn't respond right away Andrea, because I have mixed results with my
> cuttings.  I'm now using the clear enclosed box method that I think Cathy
> brought up some time back.  I use a 1:1 mix of perlite and vermiculite in
> mine.  I just checked this morning and some of my hardy woody cuttings
have
> taken hold.  Previously I had only done tender plants in this box and with
> great results.
>
> But as I understand it you are doing yours in the open, no top. So I
really
> wouldn't be able to give any advice.
>
> Kitty
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Franzman" <dfranzma@pacbell.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 9:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] cuttings
>
>
> > I don't live in an humid climate Andrea but I just use vermiculite.
> Little
> > chance of rotting that way.  I actually used Jim's method of the box. 
Ask
> > him about it it's a good solution.
> >
> > David
> > http://www.atouchofthetropics.net
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: <hodgesaa@earthlink.net>
> > To: "gardenchat" <gardenchat@hort.net>
> > Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 6:19 PM
> > Subject: [CHAT] cuttings
> >
> >
> > > Question for those of you in really humid climates. I've been trying
to
> > > do some Hydrangea cuttings and a few other things this summer. Seems
> > > they were doing well until it got into July. It's been so humid that
the
> > > soil isn't "breathing." My cuttings are rotting rapidly and it's
really
> > > irritating me.
> > >
> > >
> > > Do y'all use JUST vermiculite to do cuttings or do you use soil also?
> > > Does the vermiculite work better? I bought a bag today at Lowe's so I
> > > can try that. Should I wait until September when it cools off some?
> > >
> > >
> > > I want to start some things (mostly Hydrangeas and Salvias) even
though
> > > I know it's late into the summer, but actually I usually do some in
the
> > > fall and they do fine.
> > >
> > > A
> > >
> > >
> > > Andrea H
> > > Beaufort, SC
> > >
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