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Re: I need info

Jose Almandoz. wrote:
> 
> Hi Amy!
> 
>    Did you cover your cuttings with plastic?. For most kinds in summer
> propagation you MUST cover with plastic (or glass) in order to keep
> humidity level as close as possible to 100 %. In summer you take advantage
> of high temperatures without the need to use artificial bottom heat. In
> this close conditions (high humidity and hot temperatures, high water
> condensation inside the plastic -i.e.: a plastic bag kept just over the
> cuttings-) fungus find real paradise, so you'll need to check once a week
> for rotten or fallen leaves, spraying with a good fungicide before covering
> again with plastic.
>    You'll see how soon they'll root (not rot) for you... BUT be careful,
> the cuttings must be kept OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT, but not in deep shade as
> Alex suggested. If you leave them in the sun, they'll cook under plastic.
>    All this WORKS for me in zone 9, much better in Summer than in the Fall.
> Also, in summer, the wood of most cuttings is much better for an easier
> rooting. And, most important, AS EARLIER you root a cutting in the year,
> the better chances to get it through the winter...Try with plastic in
> Summer, Amy! :-)
> 
> Good luck!!! :-)
> 
> Jose
> almand@arrakis.es
> Northern Spain, zone9, humid oceanic climate
> 
> ----------
> > De: Amy Knutson <aknutson@peak.org>
> > A: seeds-list@eskimo.com
> > CC: seeds-list@eskimo.com
> > Asunto: Re: I need info
> > Fecha: martes 19 de agosto de 1997 17:23
> >
> > Hi Alex,
> > I'm glad to hear you have had such success. I just recently tried what
> > you suggested and the cuttings all dried up and wilted away, literally
> > within hours of potting. I used sterile soilmix, wetted, and in the
> > shade, sigh. It's less disappointing for me to do them in the fall.
> > :( Amy
> >
> > On Mon, 18 Aug 1997, Alex Teller wrote:
> >
> > > Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 17:04:36 -0700
> > > From: Alex Teller <alextell@pacbell.net>
> > > To: seeds-list@eskimo.com
> > > Subject: Re: I need info
> > >
> > > Regarding the advice below from Amy Knutson.  I beg to disagree.
> > > I live in zone 9 and have been propagating plants in July, August and
> > > September
> > > when the temperature is in the nineties.  The plants love it and they
> > > grow roots even faster.  But, YOU MUST KEEP THEM IN FULL SHADE! no need
> > > for a greenhouse either.
> > > I am only reporting my experience.
> > >
> > > Alex Teller
> > >
> > >
> > > Amy Knutson wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi Lynne,
> > > > You have a lot of general questions. But one big piece of advice I
> can
> > > >
> > > > give is not to start propagating now, that is, this month. It's too
> > > > hot
> > > > and anything you move, divide, or take cuttings from is most likely
> to
> > > >
> > > > die (unless you have a really humid and coolish greenhouse).
> > > > I find that it's easiest to do these things in the fall, in October
> > > > when
> > > > the weather has cooled off. How you propagate depends on the type of
> > > > plant.
> > > > -Amy K.
> > > > Corvallis, OR, USDA zone 8
> > >
> > >

I just HAVE to make an addendum here....

In this kind of heat, the leaf surface transpires far more water OUT of
the leaf that the cut stem can take up.  So, cut the leaves in half or
reduce them even up to 2/3's.  This leaves enough leaf surface to allow
photosynthesis for root production, but not so much that the leaf
expires all the water in the cutting.  Now, it you can provide a VERY
FINE mist, one that keeps the atmosphere saturated, but does not
saturate the soil, you'll acheive unbelelivable results.  Good luck.
For what it's worth, I am taking a couple hundred cuttings almost
daily.  Losses have been mimimal.  And I don't employ a mist bed. yet.
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