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kwesiobruni

Oasis Wedges

16 years ago

Has anyone ever used Oasis Wedges to take their dahlia cuttings? I am wondering if you are supposed to keep water in the tray at all times or just water enough for the wedges to soak up. I can't find anything online to tell how to use them.

Ryan

Comments (3)

  • 16 years ago

    Since no one else has chimed in, I guess I will.

    I work with oasis a lot.

    I think it will work for you, with a few tips.

    You need to soak the oasis before you use it. Put it in a bucket of water and let it sink on its own or you will have air bubbles trapped in the middle. It will be REALLY heavy when it is 'full'. If you need to cut it, it is much easier wet and cuts well with a sharp bread knife.

    Oasis can only be pierced once, if you decide to move your cutting, you need to re-cut the tip of your dahlia off and then insert it again in a different spot or you may have an air bubble trapped at the end of the re-used hole.

    Oasis does not do a great job of self-wicking. I would suggest pouring water over it once a day AND letting it sit in a bit of water. I donÂt think it will retain enough to rot your cutting it actually may be the perfect medium.

    The only down fall I see is how will you know when it has rooted? Because the oasis is so dense I donÂt think the roots can pierce through it and if it can, they might be ripped off when you pull on it to check...hmmmm

    Maybe you can get the oasis wet and make a mush/mix of it by squeezing it in your hand and making a paste? And then stick it in a pot to hold its shape?

    Let me know how it goes!

    Have you done Dahlia cuttings before?

    Keriann~

  • 16 years ago

    Ryan-- I think you're refering to the plant-growing wedges rather than the big oasis that florists use. They are of different density from the florist's kind, are already cut into little wedges, have a hole in them for the cutting-- the roots will grow right out through them just fine. They also contain a bit of stuff to prevent fungus & to feed the cutting. I would never use regular oasis for cuttings- it's far too dense.
    Soak the wedges well before using, do your cutting- be sure to have a leaf-node to put down in the hole in the oasis or you won't get tubers from the plant. Keep the wedges in the flat/tray made just for that purpose-- or-- one of our members gets really little plastic cups---- but it has to have a hole put in the bottom because, yes, you do have to keep the oasis wet at all times-- about a half inch of water in the bottom of the flat or container that you put the cups in.

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks for the advice, I have actually began taking cuttings already and that is pretty much what I have been doing. I just wasn't sure if it was right. This is my first try at Dahlia cuttings.
    Thanks again
    Ryan