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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?
> 
> Marianne

I am a Port Angeles Garden Club Member who got roped into taking the
three year course to become an accredited National Flower Show Judge. 
During one of the symposiums, the instructor (and these aren't your
average gardeners who I call 'Instructors') brought this issue up.
Water roots are of inferior quality for growing in soil.  The plant
won't ALWAYS die, but the cell structure is not the same as that needed
for nutrient uptake in soil.
Anyway, to make a long winded story into merely a gasp, add one
tablespoon of soil a day to your glass of water.  When it is soil up to
the top, the glass will in essence, contain mud.  Now you have roots
that can handle soil.  They will have toughened up and are ready to pot
up.
My, I really could have blathered on for a considerable period about
this. This is your lucky day.
-- 
The Greenhouse Nursery
81 S. Bagley Creek Road & Hwy 101
Port Angeles, WA  98362
(360) 417-2664
Zone 8
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