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gee8ch

rooting cuttings horizontally

19 years ago

Hi: Beginner Brugger here. Am having good luck rooting Brug cuttings in water and then setting out in pots. Would like to try laying cuttings horizontally in soil and allowing rooting to occur along the length of the cutting.

1. Advantages/disadvantages to rooting this way?

2. Will each of the "sprouts" be a separate plant, or is the entire cutting treated as one plant?

3. Any special techniques for rooting this way?

All suggestions/directions greatly appreciated. TIA Gloria

Comments (33)

  • 19 years ago

    It's a VERY easy method! I call them 'logs'!! I was planning on sending this 'log' to a friend and DUH-Me forgot to include it in his box. I had the log wrapped in a wet paper towel and zipped into a sandwich bag...left it on the counter for about three days...opened to find some very neat nubbies! I actually cut this little log and stuck it into a pot of the 'mix' I use ...it's already looking great. This was on or about Dec 16...there are already all kinda leaves on the little logs. If you are interested, I can post pictures of the before and now. Easy, Easy, Easy !!

  • 19 years ago

    I ended up rooting a few cuttings horizontally this year. A few of my cuttings had so many roots, so far up the stem that I couldn't bury them under the soil so I laid them on their side. Most have 3 to 5 little plants that have grown from them. I'm just going to cut the main (horizontal) stem into pieces, each containing a plant, when I put them out in the spring. I have no idea if that's what you are supposed to do but it makes sense to me. If that's not the correct way to do it hopefully someone will respond.
    Karyn

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks, B7H & Karyn1. I assume (and that usually gets me in trouble) that this method works best for thick cuttings and not the skinny ones? What soil mix do you use, or should it be 100% perlite? What kind of moisture & light do you like for this? BTW, pix are always welcomed. Gloria

  • 19 years ago

    ABADS has info on this subject here...
    (scroll down to Other rooting methods)
    http://www.abads.net/Rooting/

    BGI has it here....
    ( look under Log cutting)
    http://www.brugmansia.us/startcut.shtml

  • 19 years ago

    Hi Gloria,
    I had thick woody cuttings and thin green ones that I planted horizontally. They had developed roots before I planted them that way. I would have had to cover 3/4 of the stem if I have planted them vertically. They must have been leaning way over in the rooting buckets because roots formed so far up the stem. I planted them in a regular potting mix (I use Fafard 3-B). I use Fafard when I start brug cuttings in soil also. Plumeria and adeniums are the only cuttings that I always start in mainly perlite. I keep the soil moist, not wet and regular room light, no grow lights. I'll try to remember to get some pics. I have a brug that I think has a mosaic virus that I need pics of also. Thanks for the links Ruth Ann.
    Karyn

  • 19 years ago

    I did it with a big cutting (log) that did not want to root. At every node it produced a plant. It is a good way to maximize your yield. When I accuire some collector Brugs doubles and triples from cuttings I plan on doing some this way. The only draw back I see is you cannot examine it for fungus. I always like to hedge my bets and have more than one way going.

    Jim

  • 19 years ago

    Hi Gloria,

    After the first freeze, I dug trenches along our back fence about a foot deep. I laid the long woody sections (generally 3-4 feet long) in the trench and covered with mulch. I did absolutely nothing else to aid in rooting or help with survival.

    In the spring, I had about 20 feet of Brugs sprouting. So, so easy. I'm in zone 7.

    Laura

  • 19 years ago

    Good Job Laura!!!
    After taking a few cuttings I think that is a great way to go...No Fuss propagation...I love it
    Chena

  • 19 years ago

    A Brr Hello to all! Thanx so very much for all the good info on horizontal rooting. During the "Artic Freeze" (first since 1989),I am learning just what so many of you have to go thru to "winter over" your Brugs. I've brought all my cuttings and potted Brugs into the house and right now my kitchen (clean, but always a little messy) is looking like something out of a Tarzan movie!! Some of my cuttings aren't looking as good as I think they should, but some didn't seem to be "good" cuttings to begin with. Those will be the vendors I won't buy from again on E-Bay. However, most of them look like they might be starting to like Life in the Kitchen!!
    Hey Chena: We've got to try harder concentrating on making Spring come soon!! Gloria

  • 19 years ago

    Just thought I would get this up on the first page, It seems applicable here, with some of the difficult cuttings that easily turn to mush, Give this method a try so as to keep it aerated and not encourage the mushies.

  • 19 years ago

    oxmyx 6, I was thinking about this last night, thanks for doing the leg work. I wonder if this will help some of the ones that folks are having problems with. I have never tired it so I guess I better see if this might work?

  • 19 years ago

    Barry & KHT: I'm not seeing anything on my screen. Could use some help, still struggling with some difficult cuttings. Are you referring to "log" planting? How do you aerate them? On another forum I raised the question of using horizontal method on these thin green cuttings and the responses said potting them would be the best way. Not much positive advice for the "log" method for those cuttings. Gloria

  • 19 years ago

    Hey, Ya'll (yep, I'm in the South)

    I've had good luck with log rooting- I almost lost an Adeline cutting last Spring- kept rotting on me. So, out of desparation (this was Adeline, after all!) I laid the remaining piece of cutting down in a pot, less than 4" of it, pressed it into the damp soil about halfway, and covered with cellophane. That little piece sent up shoots from three nodes-when I saw the green I took off the plastic- and I cut the piece in half and had two plants. And the cutting was not what I would call log material, it was less than 1/2" in diameter. I also used this method for finicky Maya logs.

  • 19 years ago

    Yes . gee8ch The "log" method. I have not read the linked articles, but am use a Perlite and sphagnum mixture in a shallow plastic container with a lid.

    Dweeb sent me a really great variety "species" and it was slowly rotting from the inside, kept cutting it off, now it is a 2" piece. Hate to loose it, any what the Perlite is enough to keep it aerated, Sphagnum is an antibiotic and the plastic container is to keep humidity.

  • 19 years ago

    Very timely topic...thank you for bringing it forward!

    Testimonial to "log rooting":

    There have been times that I was going into the hospital and knew ahead of time so I would get out back and do some good pruning because I knew 1. Nobody else would. 2. If someone at home took it upon themselves to prune when they saw my plants hanging over from weight, they'd butcher, not prune.

    There have been several times over the years before a hospital visit that I've cut back/pruned and didn't have time to clean up my mess.

    Lo and behold, a month later I'm out checking on my babies and whatever I haven't cleaned up has rooted itself, sideways.

    Love the term "Log" LOL

    This goes both for my Brug and my Jade plant....roots galore while laying on their sides in dirt, no effort on my part what-so-ever.

  • 19 years ago

    OKay. That is what I'm going to do this weekend. All those @#&** little nubbieless critters are going to be laid down in some good loose soil/perlite/worm castings fill. I raised the question a while back 'cause i thought it might be a good way to save the cuttings that seemed determined to rot in water no matter what! Thanks for the encouragement, and I will keep you all posted on whether this method is a good one for those thin green baby Brugs. Gloria

  • 19 years ago

    Oxmyx: The species is rotting? I have one that doesn't look good either.

    Ok - no more Ebay! The species were only 2 days old when they got here and I plunked them in the mail.

    Grrrrrrr - no more EBAY

  • 19 years ago

    Dweeb, It may not be Ebay, but this particular variety
    I hope someone else knows.

    But I'll go with ya on the Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

  • 19 years ago

    oxmyx, I agree that certain varieties shouldn't be treated like the common ones. I'm going to be testing the log method as I haven't done that to see what I can do.

    Usually if cutting are packaged correctly from the sender, mailed and received in a 3-5 day period the nubs should started, so if you put them in water for a day or two you should be able to put into dirt for the more commone ones. Then you have the fuzzier leafed ones, variegated ones and the doubles and triples that should be potted up right away in soil with a little bottom heat as a general rule that we go by.

  • 19 years ago

    hmmmm someone said use bottom heat for difficult ones such as doubles, triples, and variegated. Had "Species" on Perlite mix for a while and just this morning put it under heat, now it is complete mush. Seems like the head sped up the degenerative process.

  • 19 years ago

    It is very good we all are sharing. It is much easier to learn from others mistakes. Now I am a fungicide person I use Bayer. It has solved a bunch of problems. There is always fungus and bacteria waiting for a warm moist environment. The green ones being thin skinned are very vulnerable. I am also a rootone person because it has a good dose of fungicide. My bottom heat comes from a refrigerator. One thing about heat is it can make things happen fast. I like it on seeds.

  • 19 years ago

    Jim: Last year I bought some of that Bayer stuff you spoke about. Followed directions on the jug, but everyone of the brugs I used it on collapsed and died within 4-5 days. How much are you using? Less than the directions? Do you think the lack of humidity in my area has anything to do with it? Don't really need it now, but sounded like a good idea to add to the soil when planting Brugs out. TIA Gloria

  • 19 years ago

    bottom heat from a refrigerator is brilliant! I can't wait to try it. thanks for the idea.

  • 19 years ago

    My Queen of the night epi lives on top of the refrigerator during the winter and it always blooms after I bring it in and put it up there. I guess I will be getting to try the log method thanks to my slow mail service here. I got some cuttings that were wrapped in damp paper and the whole thing sealed inside a clear plastic sleeve. My regular mail lady was out so I think they sat at the post office for a couple of days and when I opened the package nearly all of them had actual roots not just nubbies from top to bottom! So what do you all think. Log method or pot as usual and the roots above the soil will die and be ok? Maybe this could be a new rooting method. Seal up cutting halfway down with wet paper then seal the clear plastic bag around it as high as you want roots and put in a dark hot garage for several day, lol. Help me people, lol.

  • 19 years ago

    Those are my cuttings right?

    You know that beats the cuttings I am trying to root and I have had them longer! NO ROOTS I am going to try this.
    Either I package them up and send them to myself or I wrap them up in damp paper and plastic!

  • 19 years ago

    Yep, lol They are. Most have good size roots. The rest have at least large nubbies. This is the second time I have recieved cuttings that had roots when they got here and didn't when they left but were wrapped and sealed at the bottom end only with plastic. I was curious about rooting them that way and now I definitely am but I think they need to be individually wrapped and placed inside a closed box then put them in your trunk and ride around with them a few days. Then you don't have to pay to mail them to yourself,lol.

  • 19 years ago

    fool4flowers hahahaha ROTFLMAO!!

  • 19 years ago

    I'll let you know how the log thing does, lol. I can always send you some back now that they have roots and should be ready to grow a flower by then, ROFLMAO.

  • 19 years ago

    ok Flowers ;)
    new thread:

    rooting cuttings through shipping

  • 19 years ago

    Hmmm. . .maybe I should try that. LOL. . .

    What's that box?
    Nothing.
    Want me to get it out of your car?
    No, just leave it.
    Why?
    I'm rooting plants.
    Whaaaat?!?!

    Yeeeaaah. . . .I can see the look on their faces now. . .LOLOL

    If they didn't think I was a screw ball before, they'll think it now! (grin)

    We can call them our "Mobile Greenhouses" (grin)

    ROTF. . . .

  • 19 years ago

    Hey Dweeb: Let's not scoff! Bet you and I end up trying it!! lolx3 GLoria

  • 19 years ago

    I've come to the conclusion that I don't like horizontal rooting. Maybe it would be better if I had a huge cutting that I dug a trench for outside. It's hard to cut the stem once they've started growing into multiple plants, at least for me. Now I'm just planting the cuttings that have roots along the enire stem the depth of a regular cutting. The exposed roots just dry up.
    Karyn

  • 19 years ago

    Gloria - LOL

    Yea, yea, probably. Sounds like something interesting to try.

    Still want to try to grow a "circle" one though! (grin)

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