When you have cut the rotten area off did you remove all of it (all the way to clean white wood...no brown or discoloration) and did you clean your blade with rubbing alcohol to remove any contaminants?

I cleaned it with alcohol and I removed it until I couldn't see any brown spots...should I cut it back farther?

Ok good. Do you have any rooting powder to dip it in before you wrap the end in plastic? or could you bury it in pine bark to callus it instead of wrapping with plastic?

I can get some rooting powder. And I don't really have any clean mulch. Would perlite work if I wet it?

Ok, I'll try it