Re: Gaura.....- Propagation through cuttings

Jean, 
My humidifier sits outside of the tent, with the spout directing the moist
air into the tent through a slit that I cut in the shape of an X into the
side of the tent with an Exacto knife.  The X slides over the spout, and
effectively forms a seal.  

I run it on a cheap household timer, set to come on in the AM and off at
sunset.  I will be putting it on a GFI circuit this weekend, if all goes as
planned.  Commercial mist devices use various means to determine when to
turn on or off.  Some use good timers (down to the minute, 24 x 7).  Others
use a trip switch and a screen on a lever --- when the screen is wet
enough, it sags on the lever arm, and the switch opens, shutting off the
electricity.  The screen (and any leaves on the cuttings) dries, the lever
arm rises, contact is made again, closing the switch and the mister turns
on.  Sounds a little Rube Goldberg-like, but it works.  

I also shut it off manually on days when it is cloudy.  If there is not
much light or heat, there's not much transpiration occurring either.  Why
keep the plants in a 100% RH chamber unless there's need?  

But otherwise, stick the cuttings in either straight perlite or a 1:1
perlite:peat mix, and give it a shot.  

I spray the cuttings and inside of the chamber with a mild fungicide
solution (Bravo / Daconil / chlorothalonil) weekly.  I plan to sterilize
the inside of the chamber with a chlorox solution at least once a year, or
more frequently, if needed.  Right now, I am still losing an occasional
leaf to what seems to be botrytis, and an occasional softwood cutting to
either botrytis or some other fungus.  Hard or firm wood I treat a little
more strongly, either with a fungicide dip or dust, or a post-sticking
drench.  I am trying to rotate fungicides to avoid the possibility of
resistance building up, but do not have an applicator's license, and
therefore am limited to whatever is available at the garden centers.  

Rick 


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