I do not have a system, so take my comments with a grain of salt. I've just been doing a little research of my own, and am sharing my *understanding* of what one might want/need. I am hoping others will chime in and correct me...

Most systems want a short-repeat-cycle timer that can be altered for day and night. It's not unusual for folks to set them up for as little as one to five minute *off,* with only 5 - 10 seconds *on*. (A more humid climate presumably could get away with longer intervals, and you don't want to really soak the rooting medium beneath.) At night, these systems might altogether shut off with no irrigation. I have heard that one should put them in full sunlight for roses, but I can't help but think some filtered light would be helpful in a really hot or dry climate.

This kind of setup would preclude most available "hose" timers on the market, unfortunately.

I have found a 110 volt repeat cycle timer with photocell for under 30, (Titan Controls- Spartan series -- not an endorsement as I have no experience with it) but then I think one needs a transformer and solenoid in addition to the mist heads. My guess is that I could be looking at a good $70 before it's all said and done.

I've seen mist heads anywhere from 1 to 4(?!) feet over the cuttings, but would think that, like the actual length of timing, this would be dependent on water flow, air circulation, humidity, and sunlight. Same for the number and spacing of misters, I've seen spaced as few as about 1 per 3 feet, if sheltered from wind and high enough above the cuttings, but I will plan for a bit more. Having the misters on "stems" or hanging from tubes that might permit reconfiguring might be a good idea for a new setup.

Trial and error will probably be in order until you get a configuration that fits your climate/season/planting medium.

Hopefully, others will chime in.

Did you read Malcolm manners post on his setup in Florida? I'll try and find the post although I think you saw it. Perhaps he could mention what he specifically uses.

Thank you. I did read Malcolm Manners' post. I wanted to see if there were some more opinions out there as well. He did not go in to what brand of timer he uses and I don't remember him saying how far the mist nozzles are from the plants.

I appreciate the brand recommendation for timer. It is hard to find one with short intervals. I like the idea of a battery operated timer better. I did try looking at youtube videos and what I saw wasn't very helpful. I also get tired of youtube videos that are long on preliminary chat and short on the info. Haven't found a good one yet.

One thing that might help me is to contact a grower's supply company. They probably are up on what the best brands are, etc. Probably more expensive than the cheaper stuff available.

I have two MistKing systems - and had one briefly set up - but, like above stated, it's trial and error - too much is dependent upon your own growing conditions.

Consider these many variables: is your air dry? How much sun / light do you get, etc etc etc, that you would need to tweak it according to your own space.

I like the MistKing system because I can cover as much, or as little, space as I want to, and it is essentially autonomous - I have to do nothing with it other than fill the water reservoir as needed, and I can set up the intervals and lengths to my heart's content.

I have MistKing also, but have yet to use it! I'll post on the timers I bought if I find them. The interval isn't as short, but I think that in less than full sun it would be sufficient to stop them drying out. I've been successful with just watering mine, but know the mist would allow them to be put in brighter light which would push the growth faster and give less time for rot. George Manders explicit posts are another place to look. He does his indoors under mist. I also hate the Youtube preamble, so appreciate his are pictures with detailed explanations.

I'll look up Mistking. I also wondered whether one of those outdoor misting fans would work, especially if it oscillated and could cover a larger area. Will look in to rooting them indoors also. Anything to extend my rooting time frame.

I've rooted roses for at least 15 years and used to think I had a very high rate of success...90% or better. But I don't have that rate of success with them anymore. Could be due to more shade in my garden overall, cutting down on the oomph available in each cutting. Or more shade in my propagating area. Or something else. We had adequate humidity all these years with no misting.

Here are some I rooted in spring and summer with no misting system. I end up with a fraction of this now.

I've never seen the misting fan. That sound really easy to set up!

No one watches all of the you tube video/s, at least I don't, when they are chatty unless its someone I really like..just slide the slider dot/ button over to skip to the part you want to watch.

I've seen misting fans at Lowe's hardware. I think they set them up to keep the cashiers cool in the garden department. Another thing I thought about is setting up something to enclose the area a bit, kind of like Malcolm Manners does. Something with sides but open at the top. Then put a cool mist vaporizer in it. I don't know if that would be an electric shock hazard or not. It might be enough humidity for a small area.

Here's someone else with the humidifier idea: https://www.epicgardening.com/plant-humidifiers/

But I am not clear if this person used it outdoors. I think it would be important to keep one of these out of rain, so maybe it would need a protective box around it that allowed the mist to get out . Also would need a timer.

Not knowing anything about greenhouse management I have always imagined that it would be easy for diseases to flourish in a very humid environment. Any time I tried to root cuttings with a plastic bag enclosure they rotted. Open air was better.

So Malcolm's set up makes some sense to me with the top open to the air. I just don't know why you'd need extra humidity in FL but apparently it works. Another easy thing to raise humidity in open air would be to put rooting pots on plastic trays with pebbles on them , which you keep filled with shallow water. Oh, mosquitoes.

I have had the same experience with plastic bags, but I think the issue is that my medium was too wet and not free draining and also that the bag touch the leaves. I now have and experiment going and those that do not touch are still green. It was more successful with dormant cuttings last winter. We are humid, but they still are doing better when watered daily. There seems to be a battle between leaves collecting light to push roots and stealing water from the stem, so the mist keeps the leaves from collapsing. Without it it's probably better to remove some of the leaves since they'll fall off anyway. things will also root better when the soil is warmer than the outside temp, so the mist may also help with that balance. I think they like the heat and moisture. I read once to use water that had mosquito dunks in it. JAthought.

Thanks for the links!!!

Did you check the propagation forum? Try googling cloning, some home made mister systems will pop up. The “420” peeps probably have some good info :)

It makes sense to me that cuttings would like warm temps but I've found that some root better in cooler temps such as Gallicas and a few others. Some people think cool temps are a lot better for rooting.

It seems to me that I have not seen misting systems in many greenhouses. It seems like humidity is high anyway in a greenhouse. Just wondering if a greenhouse would solve part of my problems. I am on a budget so am looking at cheap ones on ebay but don't know why they make so many of them in green plastic. I don't know if plants get enough light under green plastic. Seems like in a small greenhouse a little cool mist vaporizer might be all I'd need.

I did find an 18" outdoor misting fan at Home Depot for $89. Have to connect it to a hose. Small " misting systems" with no fan are a lot cheaper. Maybe I'll try that. Am not sure how to rig it up but probably can figure something out.

Vapor, I have used mosquito dunks here for other things...they are good.

Harbor Freight has greenhouses - they are fairly reasonably pr.iced I you wait for a sale and use a coupon. There’s a whole thread on how to modify them.

I have only visited two smaller commercial rose growers. I can't remember if PeterSchneider uses mist, but HighCountryRoses definitely does. I think the beauty of MManners open top affair is the great air flow that it offers. Interesting about the Gallicas. I was able to cold root a dormant Alba last winter so it's possible. However, I've never tried that in the summer. My most recent cuttings have rooted in 2-4 weeks in 90+ degrees. However, when I can't water them it's curtains for a few.

The mister I got (at a Restore new) is made by MisterLandscaper and my timer is by Orbit from Walmart. They make several options that allow for custom setting such as discussed above. One has to read the fine print as it looks like there are only a few settings, whereas in fact, one can do whatever one needs with the custom setting. I was lucky enough to find mine in the winter sale section after Xmas for $3 a piece!!! These are digital.

To keep the mosquitoes out of your pan that has rocks and water in it just cover the whole thing with a thin sheet of cloth before sitting your flower pot on the rocks. Trim the cloth such that it doesn’t hang over the edge as it could wick water. You can still add water when required and the mosquitoes can’t get to the water. A section of an old pillow case should work.

That is brilliant! They don't call you toolbelt for nothin'! : ))