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Re: Cuttings in water vs soil

Marianne Lepa wrote:
> 
> A quick search of the archives show that rooting certain types of cuttings
> in water is popular among the list members here. I've used it to great
> success myself on many occasions. However, recently I was told by a Master
> Gardener that roots developed in water are not viable once the cutting is
> potted. According to this gentleman, the 'water roots' will rot away and
> the cutting will have to develop new roots specific to soil. I've never
> heard of this before, does anyone here have any insight on this?
> 
In her very practical book MAKING THINGS GROW, Thalassa Cruso explains
that if the cutting is left in water, its roots specialize to extract
nutrients from water. They then are useless (or much less efficient)
when it comes to extracting nutrients from soil.
The obvious analogy is with fish, which can extract oxygen from water
but not from air.
Water-adapted roots are thick and fleshy. Soil-adapted roots are usually
thin and fibrous.

Joshua
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