Need advice for my rooting Plumerias

9 years ago

Hello, I recently bought 2 cuttings (approx 10 cm each).

I first tried to plant in a combination of coconut fibre and lava gravel. Checked the cuttings and there were little transparent worms in the gravel. I took the cuttings out, washed them an replanted in 100% perlite.

After 2 weeks in perlite, I carefully checked the cuttings' ends and they look like in the pictures. As I am new to this, I really don't know if the cuttings look good or if they are starting to rot.

What should I do?

Thank you

Mihaela

Featured Answer

bossyvossy

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

If I were you, I'd get another larger cutting. But being that you are so intent on making what you have work, I would cut a sliver until cut area looks white. Dip it in root hormone and let the wound air dry out for a day or two. Then insert in moist, not dripping wet, perlite and wait. Your cutting appears to have beginnings of rot plus the reddish stuff is a kind of fungus that is very aggressive. If you slice until "white" it is possible you'd end up with a 2-3" cutting and that certainly won't be successful. I don't discourage you from trying, lessons are usually best learned in the face of failure.

Good that you have a clear container but if you cannot see the roots through the perlite, then obviously you don't have any root action. It is almost always fatal to disturb plant during rooting process. When you can CLEARLY see roots through perlite then it's safe to move cutting to a soil based medium. Not a minute before, and that process takes 6-8 weeks, depending on cutting and depending on whether cultivar is easy or hard to propagate to begin with.

and a final comment re: cuttings. There is strength in numbers. Try rooting more than one if possible. Sometimes despite of One's best effort, cuttings don't take root. It is demoralizing, even to experienced propagators. You can always give your extras away or sell or whatever.

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Comments (9)

bossyvossy
9 years ago
Your cuttings s/b at least 8" long to improve success odds. I use a clear plastic container to inspect for root development as fiddling with cutting during rooting process of a no-no.
Mihaela
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for the input. They are in a transparent container, however I cannot see clearly how the end of the cutting looks like due to the perlite in which it is put - therefore, I thought it would be better to carefully inspect before it is too late.

However, the question was not addressed - do they look ok or are they starting to rot (and what should I do in this case)?

Thank you
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Mihaela
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you very much. If I don't manage to get them to work, probably my next attempt to have a Plumeria will be with an already rooted one.
edzone9
9 years ago
I like to se my small Hydroponic System to root and speed up my Plumeria seeding growth rate .

this Cutting I bought on eBay from Thailand rooted in less than 1 week using my Hydroponic system , hard to see from the pics , but has lots of nice white root system ..

Good Luck With Your Cutting !

Ed
bossyvossy
9 years ago
wow how cool is that. does it work w/ any plant? expensive? I propagate the old fashioned way but you can convince me to leap into 21st century, ha. the two little ones are plumies or what are they. Looks like citrus. does it work w/ hardwood cuttings or depends on plant. Maybe you should start your own thread on hydro propagation, how interesting!
edzone9
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The 2 Seedings Are Plumeria Seeds From Thailand I Buoght On EBay, Wanted To Conduct an experiment with Plumeria Propagation , So I planted some seeds in a Giffy germination station using traditional seed starting media , And planted 2 Seeds in my Hydroponic Pods , The Hydroponic Seedlings Grew 5-7 Times Faster than the ones in the Traditional Growing media .

and the Ones in the Hydroponic system look so healthy ! Deep shiny green leaves .

you can grow anything in the Hydroponic System , I use it to get a head start in the beginning Growing stages.

The Seedling in the Front is a Giant Hybiscus Blue/Purple Varaiety .

The other 2 Are Thai Seedlings .

You can buy a 9 Site Hydroponic System on eBay for $33 Free Shipping .

Do not but the Aero Garden system that I am using , its low quality and the air pump dies within the 1st month of use, I just bought it at the clearance bin at Walmart , I Just Bought A Better System on eBay to propagate more plants it's fun !.
Big Difference between the 2 Propagation methods ..

Ed

http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-PLANT-SITE-HYDROPONIC-GROW-KIT-SYSTEM-BUBBLE-TUB-DWC-/231430729338?hash=item35e258ae7a:g:aToAAOSwnipWUhmU
bossyvossy
9 years ago
Thank you! I'll ck it out
edzone9
9 years ago
Here is the Root System