Re: Question (about Echiums)
Nan wrote:
>Dave, could you explain the process or the setup a bit more. Do you sit
>the 4" pot in a container of water or????
Sorry Nan, I should have been more specific. I use watertight
containers - ie empty yoghurt cartons etc. These are part-filled with
perlite and water is then added until the level is just below that of
the perlite. The advantage of this is that the cuttings are able to
withstand brighter conditions with less likelihood of wilting through
excessive transpiration.
The brighter the conditions, the faster the rate of photosynthesis,
the more rapid the rooting procedure. Against this one has to weigh
stress, wilting and dehydration through insufficient water up-take in
a traditional rooting medium. Using this method, you can virtually
'have your cake and eat it' since in the early stages, moisture
availability is not a problem, but gradually less and less becomes
available forcing the cuttings to start searching. I find those
cuttings which hate mist and yet wilt without it, are ideal candidates
for this procedure and it seems to work for virtually all 'soft' and
'semi-ripe' cuttings. It's really only a variation on the old 'stick
'em in a jar of water' method.
I must add that in exceedingly bright and hotter situations such as
are likely to occur much further south (from here that is - so if you
are further south than the Great Lakes.....), water levels may drop
too rapidly and may need topping up for the first week at least.
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
