missed this picture:
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rootrainer1.jpg

Feel free to ignore those elderberry and grapevine cuttings sharing space with the figlettes.

Thank you, sandsquid (intrepid explorer). It does look promising. Now we will all be waiting for your report on how difficult, or how easy, it is to remove the cuttings for transplanting.

Thanks Elder...

The "books" opened right up easily and I could have slid the root/soil mass right out of the bottom side easily, but opted to let the roots develop lots more, or at least long enough to test their claims of air-pruning, and to increase my chances of successful transplanting.

I just wish either of the only 2 US outlets carried the deeper models that are available in the UK.

The Rooterpot ( http://www.rootrainers.co.uk/gardeners/propagationpots/rooterpot ) looks promising as well.

Also, Elder, you should note that one of each of the cuttings you mailed me are in these rootrainers.

sandsquid,

I thought I had replied to someone's post in the timeframe you mentioned.

I used them successfully last year to start my fig and grape cuttings. I made a potting mix and put the trainers inside a domed container under flourescent lights.

I tried using them for my Merlot, Cabernet, Cynthianna, (detecting a theme here?-) cuttings but they really were too short to get two nodes under the "soil" and one above. I'd really like to find a US seller of the TALL ones.

Sandsquid:

They do make larger ones here in the US:

http://www.stuewe.com/

http://www.stuewe.com/products/minitreepots.html

I have been debating for the last 6mo if I want to try their products. I am just waiting to depelete my clear cup supply.

I have called them and they have very good product knowledge and customer service and will send you a catalog right away.

I was looking specifically for the "Fleet B" or "Jumbo" RooTrainers that are available over the pond in Europe.
http://www.rootrainers.co.uk/growers/originaltrays
But NOT apparently here in The United States.

I did some sleuthing and finally got in touch w/ Mr. Spencer of Spencer-Lemaire in Canada. Very nice gentleman who was more than accommodating.

He laments thatÂs there are no US consumer distributors for any of his other rootrainer products, especially since they are selling like mad to the nursery industry in Europe.

He advises that the 8" / 20cm deep/40 cells per tray (350cc volume) is what is being used with great success for propagation of grape vines in Europe.

Also he is quite happy to sell and ship anything from 1 tray of 40, cells up to several thousand to the US at very nice pricing. I inquired if he would mind me posting his contact information online, and said he'd be happy to take care of the home growers in the US, that have a need for the taller rootrainers.

Spencer-Lemaire
http://spencer-lemaire.com/
(800) 668 8530

sandsquid, Thanks for the contact info.

Loslunasfarms, I had considered those tree pots, but you can't see what is happening with the roots. The Rootrainers are better that way as you can "open" the book up and see progress (or not) without disturbing them.

Just bear in mind that it can be difficult to close the book once opened, especially if you don't yet have a lot of roots holding the soil mix together.

> it can be difficult to close the book once opened,
> especially if you don't yet have a lot of roots holding
> the soil mix together.

I personally haven't had any problems getting the books closed when the roots are sparse or not even started yet.

It's when the roots are fully involved that I can't get the books closed again, but if I find them in that condition, it's time to move them to a nursery pot anyway.

I find that the (almost daily) rains tend to saturate the cells well, however the vermiculite is almost too free-flowing with the open bottoms of the books.

On days it does _not_ rain (which has been pretty rare this spring) I've watered in the morning and found they needed some more water in the late afternoon as well.

To retain some moisture I've done some cuttings of bluberries, elderberries, grapes, and figs in the rootrainers with various blends:

100% Vermiculite
50% Vermiculite / 50% Peat
30% Vermiculite / 30% Peat / 20% Composted Manure /20% used Starbucks' espresso grounds.

So far, the last two listed have yielded the best results, with the vermiculite/peat/compost/coffee-grounds slightly edging out the vermiculite/peat mixture.(All have had rooting powder mixed directly in with the "soil" instead of dusting the cuttings.)

Some Marseilles, Quantico, Chicago hardy and Jacks 1/4 Pounder, cuttings (Special thanks to "Jack" and "Elder")

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Received the "Fleet" sized rootrainers from Spencer-LaMaire in Edmonton, AB Canada. The size is exactly what I was hoping for... Plenty of deepness to bury 2-3 nodes of fig cuttings and room left over for lots of roots.
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double.jpg

I opened up the smaller rootrainers to extract the cuttings and transplant them into the deeper ones and found lots of good healthy roots!
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jacks_Qarter pounder

and the Marsailles

Marsailles

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They slid out nicely and dropped into the waiting half-filled larger sized perfectly and I was able add another 1/2" of my rooting mix on top, without disturbing the roots any more than the slightest bit. Rue to the root mass already established, the Jack's Quarter Pounders went into 3 Gallon Nursery pots. Based upon what I've seen so far, these cuttings should be more than ready to get into their final planting location by mid-June / early-July. They probably could have gone now, but them I would not been able to "experiment" with the larger rootrainers.

Looks VERY good!

Amazing to find a product that works as advertised... What a concept!

A bit pricey to be sure, but based upon my results, and with the fact they _are_ reusable, it is a worthy investment, IMO.