Hey NC!!!
This works so well!!!!

Posted by msbatt 7 (My Page) on Wed, Apr 25, 07 at 13:13

I've had the most success in rooting passies using florists' foam ('wet' foam) as my rooting medium. Soak the foam for 10-15 minutes, then cut it into small cubes no more than an inch on a side and place them in a shallow tray with enough water to come half-way up the sides. Cut your passie cuttings into two-node cuttinggs, snipping about a quarter-inch below the bottom node. (Note---it's EXTREMELY important to be certain the 'bottom' node is actually the rootward end, and it's EASY to get confused with passies---always work from the tip down, just to be certain.) Carefully remove the bottom set of leaves, and I usually rreduce the size of the leaves on the top node, too. Dip the bottom end in just a touch of rooting powder, and insert them into the foam until the bottom node is just barely below the surface. Place the tray in bright but indirect light, and keep the foam moist at all tiimes. Once you see the roots coming through the foam, they're ready to pot up. As the roots grow, they'll break down the foam by themselves.

Chena,
Do you keep a clear plastic lid over them, or is that necessary with this method? I've got a few hard to start types (won't water root) I need to try another way.
Thanks
~SJN

NO.. I just stick them in a container keep the water level high and change it every few days.. It is amazing how quick everything has rooted.. I have lost a couple but the % of cuttings that rooted is much higher and much quicker that just water.. I think msbatt is a genius.. I have rooted brugs using this as well as evry other woody or soft wood cutting.. It works!!!
Chena

COOL
Thanks Chena!!!!
NC

I use Oaisis blocks (floral foam) with good success for cuttings so I decided to try starting seeds on it. That didn't work for me. I figured it would be a great idea because of how well the cutting do but all I got was mold :( I wonder why it works for cuttings but not seeds for me?
Karyn
PS: Make sure you are using Oaisis and not the foam that's used for dried arrangements.

The Passion Flower that I'm taking cuttings from is at Mum's house....

It's a 'Constance Eliott' that I've had NO luck in strikeing cuttings before....

Would you guy's like to see photos of how they do when I do it?
NC

Sure..CE has been one the took off very quickly for me..
Chena

Okay, today I finally got my foam Oasis baby cuttings experiment going. I've got about 23 different passiflora cuttings and 1 red mandevilla cutting. I can't wait to see what happens. Maybe tomorrow I will start some brugmansia cuttings too.
~SJN

Good Luck!!!
Your gonna love this!!!LOL
Chena

Done mine today as well..... Now I wait.... *sigh*

SJN for some reason my brugs don't do well in Oaisis. They usually end up rotting. Most everything else does fine but I stick to plain water for rooting the brugs.
Karyn

karyn1, oh darn! I was hoping for a better and new way to root brugs lol! I have never had a problem with those guys but this year I am in a very dry climate now and either they dry up from the top down once I pot them up or the harder to root ones rot in the water.
I have already lost 2 creamsickle cuttings this spring. Have you rooted creamsickle?
Right now I have bunch of CG, I.pink, and shredded white in water -so far so good but its only been a week. They have many white nubbies turning to roots.
I want to root my New orleans lady and Painted lady next because they have some good cutting possiblilities right now.
I hate to do it and lose the cuttings though, so maybe I'll wait.
~SJN

OOOO N.O.Lady!!!!!!
That one is beautiful... I would wait till fall to take cuttings tho...
I have rooted several in FF without any trouble ..I have some Halloween and Dr. Suess that are rooting right now..
Chena

Update on my oasis cuttings. Of 12 one inch squares 6 of them have big roots coming out the bottom. I put them in a clear plastic container so I could see the bottom. Every one of those cutting look great even the one mandevilla I threw in there lol. No wilting, no chlorosis etc. Some are even growing and are now climbing up the window blinds! Now I got another problem I was dumb and put 2 cuttings (same type mostly) in each square of foam~now I gotta cut them all in half diagonally to separate them :D This is a great way to grow them. Gonna do it again.
~SJN

WOOHOO!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!
I have had to seperate a few... No worries they did great!!!
Chena

Congrats ~SJN
Well, Mine are a bit of a dead loss, their NOT doing well at all..... *Sigh*
NC

So sorry to hear that ninecrow. I have changed the water on mine twice a day if I think about it. I use the lukewarm reverse osmosis water and they are in a east window where they get direct morning sun but just filtered light the rest of the day. Most of the cuttings I took were from the tips of the plants but a few are from 4-5 inches down from the tip. I don't know if any of that helps.
~SJN

How informative! I think I'll try the florist foam method - I'm trying to root some p. biflora and haven't a clue if it'll work just sticking it in moist soil in a shady place outside like I've done the first three cuttings.
Sherry