Problematic Cutting

10 years ago

Dear Friends,

About a few months ago, I posted a thread regarding a cutting that I got from a friend's house in thailand. I planted it in perlite and soil mix ( as I do with all my cuttings) in January. Until now there are NO roots whatsoever. There is some leaf thing going on. It has sprouted little leaves ( see photo) but I dont see any roots. I was getting desperate, so I took it out of the container, and I see that the cutting is the same as when I put it in the soil. Calloused, dry and firm, but No roots. Do you guys think that it will root eventually? Does it look normal to you? Is there anything else I need to be doing? it gets full sun for about 10 hours a day. The bottom temp is about 21º C (70 F) and day temps are about 30ºC (86F).

I am desperate!!!! this is the first time that it has taken that long to root a cutting. Because I usually get roots in about 3 months, or Lose the cutting to rot.

Thank you for your help and advise

Featured Answer

bossyvossy

10 years ago

While I strongly recommend against watering during rooting process, The soil needs to be premoistened before inserting cutting. Going by the pic, that soil looks terribly dry. Maybe a little water will help.

Having said that, some cultivars take longer than others. And a few varieties have a reputation for being hard to root.

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Comments (10)

dankhara
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you. The soil was "wet" when I planted the cutting in january. Hahaha. But I was afraid to add more water. That was 9 months ago
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the_first_kms2
10 years ago
it looks to be in good shape from the posted picture. I agree getting the moisture level in the soil up a bit higher may help out. I would also recommend not using rocks to stabilize. if you can find some use packing foam as it won't damage the cutting or burn it from the sunlight. Any chance you can use a heat mat to increase the soil temps?
dankhara thanked the_first_kms2
dankhara
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks the_first_kms2. I took the pot outside to take the picture. It is usually on top of a radiator for about 20/30° C

In the summer time it was outside on a concrete floor. Here in spain during the summer you can fry an egg on the floor. The weird part is that it has not dropped dead or rotted. It's the exact same as when I tried to root it 9 months ago.
bossyvossy
10 years ago
Good for you. Maybe it is in dormancy, waiting for optimal conditions to set roots and grow.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Is your weather humid? or dry? If dry, I might mist it a bit and give it part shade. But let it be otherwise. usually when leaves start to show like that, roots are not too far behind. Don't dig it up anymore.
dankhara thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
dankhara
Original Author
10 years ago
Hello Dave. The weather is terribly dry during summer. That is why I have a humidifier installed. So you think I should mist it as well?
tunatony
10 years ago
Best wishes with your cutting! I'm going to start grafting some of my known hard to root cuttings. I'm finding that once I've done everything to root one it can be past the point of the option to graft it.

By the way, is that a Toyon a.k.a."Christmas Berry" in the background of your original picture?
dankhara
Original Author
10 years ago
HI Tuna Tony. Unfortunately I don't know how to graft. I have seen a lot of videos and I haven't dared to try!!! Mainly because I don't know when is a good time to graft so that I can't kill off my babies!!!

I am not familiar with Christmas berries. What are they?

I have a zamia furfuracea somewhere in there and a crown of thorns that I brought back from Myanmar!
tunatony
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Toyon or Christmas Berry is a California native also cultivated as an ornamental. Back in the day, folks made Christmas wreaths from it and it's said that Hollywood derives its name from this plant...as the Hollywood hills are or were once blanketed in Toyon. Makes a nice shrub or small tree, has relatively low water needs.

OK, Zamia furfuracea...very exotic looking plant indeed...guess I was going out on a "limb" with that one lol! Thanks.