hi scuba i use this technique seems to work well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r68LMgD2IBE for tape i use opsite flexfit medical tape it breaths there for it dont rot i leave the tape on it will disintegrate over time i have found the above graft technique makes a strong graft

Did you let you cutting dry out before planting? If you haven't done so, let them dry out for about three days. The medium should only stay moist or dry for the first week or two. Light mist only. If there are big leaves, cut them off and only save the top three leaves.

Peter - that's an awesome video of grafting Plumeria. He makes it look so simple.

yea got a bit mixed up scuba is looking for info on cuttings not grafting

The biggest variable in my opinion is warmth. Lightly moisten potting medium, dip cut end in rooting hormone, air dry for a few days, carefully "plant" it, and place in warm, shady location.

Always best to do this in Spring/Summer.

Scuba, I am terrible with cuttings. 99% fail rate.

Marie

Very nice Rachel, my cuttings all went soggy and died, maybe I watered too much. I was applying my regular plant cutting method, keep the soil wet. I will have to try again.

Agartta, try some cuttings again in Spring. Too cold to start cuttings now. We usually do our cuttings when the daytime temps are around 30degrees Celsius.

Thanks for your replies. I actually divided the cuttings into 2 groups. One lot planted immediately with either honey or rooting hormone on end. Exactly 50% of each group had the root end notched into a cross. 50% of each group was covered with a clear plastic bag. Then the other group was dried for 3 days then dealt with the same way as the first group. Heat is not a problem here, min 25 Deg C, Max 36 Deg C. Potting medium was 1 to 2 mix of perlite/home made compost.

If the cutting was a leaf end I removed everything except the top 3 and they were cut in half to slow transpiration.

Anyway, you guys have given me ideas about where to try differently next time.

Cheers.

The Scuba Codger

I have been playing around with a few cuttings and so far it is working out pretty good. I am using straight perlite I have put the cuttings under lights on my light stand so they are getting some bottom heat at least in the daytime when the lights are on.

This first one is a seedling I topped and just could not bare to through out the top so decided to try to root it so far kind of having some fun with it playing with some bonsai ideas. I took the tip cutting December, 30 2016 the last photo with the wire on the pot was taken this morning I am interested to see how the caudex develops from such a small cutting. This second cutting is from the top of a lager plant I had that the caudex rotted out so I cut the top 10" off dusted it with cinnamon hung it to dry for a few weeks and then potted in straight perlite I did put a bit of long fiber sphagnum in the bottom of the pot to keep the perlite from falling out. I Kept it under lights too. I put that cutting in the perlite on 3/16/2017 and potted it in gritty mix on 5/10/2017 it had some really nice healthy roots and you can see this morning it is really looking happy. The perlite dried out pretty fast and I would just mist the perlite until it was moist two or three times a day. When I saw some leaves showing up I added a bit of fertilizer maybe once a week.

John

Hi John, do you use sand as well? In one of your photos there looks like sand in the roots. I don't have luck with cuttings so far. Thanks!

Hi Agartta,

I did not use any sand my perlite was pretty fine I think it was from the bottom of the bag and after a little bit got discolored.

I see, great wok there John. i have to try again. What are your thoughts on air layering adenium. Have you tried any? Thanks!

I have never tried to air layer ademium so I don't know much about it.