I recenty got all excited by a method I found in the Propagation Forum - because so many people have had success. I am trying it now and have three boxes going:

Janie's Easy Propagation Chamber:

Janie's Propagation Box Follow Up:

Tom,

I do the same as you do but also I cut off the top part of a plastic soda pop bottle and slip the inverted bottle bottom part over the cutting embedding the cut edge slightly in the cutting pot soil thus making an enclosed little environment chamber for the cutting. The humidity inside stays constant this way and seems to help the process. As water evaporates from the soil it condenses on the inside of the plastic and runs back down into the soil. I try to use the clear 2 liter soda bottles that fit my pots perfectly. On different size pots I would find other clear plastic bottles to fit. I use clear plastic so I can observe the cuttings progress. I hope this helps.

Lou

I've been pretty successful with most cuttings except michelia alba! For whatever reason, it is one of the hardest to start cuttings from. I've been trying air rooting (you know scraping the bark a bit, rooting hormone and moss covered in foil), the propagation box, the propagation ziploc...you name it. But I keep trying cause I just know one of these days one of them will take!

So Tom, Lou, and Love, what kind of cuttings have you got going now?

Helen

Helen,

Blueberry, mulberry, apple, & fig at the moment.

Lou

I am trying pentas, impatiens, pink polka dot plant, yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, hydrangea, texas star hibiscus, coleus, night-blooming jasmine, shrimp plant, jacobinia/justicia/flamingo flower, firespike and indian hawthorn.

I favor pink, white and blue-flowering plants. So in almost every case, it is the pink variety.

Carol

tom123
how do you mist? I'm looking into doing misting with a piece of drip irrigation and putting a misting head on it but would like some tips. Getting a good timer also seems important.

I've had lousy luck propagating in a plastic box or using the soda bottle method. Too much mold and no air circulation.

Denise

I use an old pump-style hairspray bottle (cleaned out very well beforehand). I use water that has stood in an open container overnight to eliminate chlorine.

i get up to 50 % and and i'm happy.....keep trying new ways...each plant is not the same...

I'm rooting (or attempting to) four different types of salvias, the large red pentas and some type of plumeria,that I can't identify. I went to the Sanford Zoo a few years ago and noticed a hummingbird feeding from it, so I got a cutting and it has taken off. It does well in the sun or shade and the butterflies and hummingbirds love it. It's a deep red color.

I'm thinking that it's important to keep the cuttings moist with some misting or sprayer and to have a light soil mixture, perhaps with some perlite to allow the roots to take.

I have a small sprayer that I fill with water from my well and try to spray them at least once a day.

I'm in awe of some of the things that can be rooted from cuttings. Seriously, who would have thought apples and salvias??? There is something about a plant that grown from a cutting or a seed, I just seem to enjoy it and appreciate it more :) I always have a 'rooting glass' going at all times at the very least. Most times if I trim something back I'll just stick it in the glass with all the others to see what happens. Once a week or so, I might have to empty out the glass and get rid of anything that's rotting and refresh the water but most times something takes.

Tom, I've even rooted plumeria in water, as long as it's hot out, it works fine.

Right now it's so humid that I haven't even been using the bags, the box, or the misting.

Carol we have the same taste in colors. But I do have some yellow or orange or maybe some purple here or there. The only color I really tend to stay away from is red. Don't hate it or anything, just love pink!

Wallasadi, you have a full blown propagation set-up going! What's the begonia in the front? She's a beauty. What color are the flowers? Sun or shade? :)

The only thing I'd like to add is to get at least 3 leaf nodes in the soil. If the bottom one rots out the 3rd will have roots by that time. And if I am rooting something with large leaves, I cut them in half. :o)

Happy Gardening.

things that have worked for me...good potting mix, semi shade, keep soil moist, leave only the top growth and cut them in half, get a long cutting that is new growth, push the cutting all the way to the bottom of the pot, i use one gal. usually. seems like it sitting on the ground helps to, keeps the cut moist. AND..keeep on trying! i'm happy if i get half to root, so i usually do about five cuttings per pot. can always split them later if they all take. good luck! it's fun!