hi derft1,

You need to cut further until the core is firm and solid white. A spongy core will not form callous so the cutting will eventually rot.

I would cut until you see solid white flesh, press your finger against it to test for firmness. I had a huge baseball bat sized cutting with a spongy core like that, eventually I had to cut off the 3 tips it had to try to root them and disposed of the main trunk.

Kenny

Derft1,
I had a cutting from Singapore arrive like that, no matter how far up I cut the center was not solid. I finally stopped cutting it and soaked it for a week in my Water rooting solution and potted it up. Well needless to say it didnt make it.
What variety is that cutting by the way? A lot of cuttings this time of year from independent sellers from Hawaii, Thailand, SIngaprore, arrive a bit shriveled, think its from their extreme heat. Suki from Trop Nature in Hawaii had to have a special room with A/C in it that she kept her cuttings in as it would get really hot in Eva where she lived @ the time.