petunia cuttings much more lush?

16 years ago

Hi guys and gals!

I have stumbled upon and interesting finding I started a bunch (I know technical quantity) of tidal wave petunias. I trimmed them all back before I planted them and rooted about 30 or so of the cuttings around May 15th. I have lost one or two petunias to blight (my fault, I didn't change the soil in a tucked away pot) but my cuttings are in an 'old pot' (both soil and pot that had a blight problem last year) and they are doing wonderfully! My cuttings side by side next to my mother plants are much more lush and compact and I have not had to trim them yet. I have trimmed my mother plants twice now, and don't get me wrong, they are beautiful but it seems the cuttings are stronger and healthier in the same conditions.

Anyone else do cuttings that noticed a difference?

Keriann~

Featured Answer

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

16 years ago

Not surprising at all, to me. You're cuttings are from the much younger growth. You've made a bunch of younger plants from that mother plant. Taking cuttings from plants almost always results in 'offpsring' that behave that way.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
if the mother plants potting media has not been changed .. then you might be noticing simply that mom is not growing as vigorous as the babes ... she is tired .. no matter how much fert you might be adding to her pot ...

in other words.. you might be comparing grandma to the teenagers.. and coming to the conclusion that grandma just isnt as pretty ... lol

ken
keriann_lakegeneva
Original Author
16 years ago
That is what I pondered but They are in the exact same conditions:

Some mother/cuttings in ÂoldÂ soil and pots

Some in new soil and sterilized pots

Same water, same light, same fertilizer.

The cuttings are just more lush and the foliage is a ten and the blooms are a bit smaller but there are more of them.

Keriann~
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calliope
16 years ago
Exactly, like the youthful vigour our kids have we have lost to some extent. ;-) The stems are softer and less woody, for one thing, and it's easier for new branches and buds to break. They are 'children' moving toward their potential, not adults hanging on to it.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
What a perfect way to put it, Suzy!
keriann_lakegeneva
Original Author
16 years ago
Great! Thanks guys!

At 25 I think I am a 'cutting' woo hoo you just made my day!

Keriann~