I over-winter a couple of varieties of sweet potato in 2 gallon containers in the house. When they get enough sunlight, they start to shoot new growth on the vines. I snip off a piece of new stem and a leaf or two, and then root that by sticking the cutting in damp potting soil.

When these cuttings start to shoot new growth, they've developed a decent root system, and they're ready to go where ever. They produce tubers just fine, as long as they have enough time in warm enough weather etc.

This post was edited by david52 on Wed, May 29, 13 at 23:02

David is talking about stem cuttings, which are different from what you did, chaman. You rooted a petiole, which probably won't result in the development of more shoots....you'll have a leaf with roots.

If there are even a few cells of stem tissue attached to the petiole, your experiment has a chance of being successful. Be sure to let us know what happens.

Thanks rhizo.I will keep you informed about the progress.

I'm also very curious if this will work. Although I was able to get many Coleus leaves to make roots, I gave up on them doing anything more after months in both water and soil, unless there was a bit of stem attached, as Rhizo said.

I admit, the need to constantly change the water so I wasn't breeding mosquitoes had something to do with the longevity if my experiment...

Makes a great, long-lasting addition to a little bouquet though!

I dunno if it's related, but that's how I learned to propagate African violets - root a leaf in water, stick it in the pot, wait a while, and up comes a new plant.

I have planted these rooted leaves (Petioles) in the garden to study it's growth pattern, like does it develops into a simple vine that can be used as house plant or it develops some tubers for veggie. use.