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When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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Posted by geoffs_ri 6 (My Page) on Sat, Feb 6, 10 at 9:26
| This is a great forum...
I had several cuttings in water for about two months until I was able to put them in Perlite. They've been in the Perlite now for another month.
Several of the cuttings have leaves sprouting, and one has a fully formed leaf. I checked a few of these, and there are some minimal roots forming...e.g., one cutting has a single root about 1/2 inch long.
My question is...when should I transplant these into potting medium? Do I need to wait for a full root system to develop? What about the cutting with a full leaf...does that need nutrients in potting mix or will the Perlite/water do for now?
Thanks,
Geoff |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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| Correction...I didn't mean to write "SOIL" in the title...I meant to write "potting mix." |
RE: When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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| My question is...when should I transplant these into potting medium? Do I need to wait for a full root system to develop? What about the cutting with a full leaf...does that need nutrients in potting mix or will the Perlite/water do for now? If they were mine i generally like to keep things simple and would just leave them be until many more roots develop before transplanting.
At that stage i dont give them nutrients or water or very little water at all.
Best Health
Martin |
RE: When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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| I prefer to wait until the root system is well developed. They can stay in cup quite a long time. Go to Figs4fun and read the propagation section and search both forums for related topics to your question. Tim |
RE: When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Sat, Feb 6, 10 at 13:13
| It's often a judgment call, but basically I would suggest that you pot-up or repot at the point when the soil in the root mass remains intact when you lift the plant from the container. Which brings up another point - try to use containers for propagating that will facilitate removing the growing cutting when required. By judgment (above), I meant that you shouldn't be lifting the plant every few days to see if the soil comes out intact, because the practice of lifting the plant to inspect the roots sets the plant back. Several studies have shown that allowing a plant to grow beyond this point ensures that the plant cannot grow to its genetic potential, within the limitations of other cultural influences. IOW, tight roots inhibit growth. (Dr. C. Whitcomb, et al) Once root density has grown beyond this point, growth is permanently inhibited, at least as long as the condition is not corrected by judicious pruning of the roots at appropriate intervals. There is no significant advantage in potting up or repotting before this point, either. Al |
RE: When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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| If it was spring or summer I would say you can remove them and placing in a pot with a slow release fertilizer with good potting mix. However having the plant indoors it will not promote much growth for you now. You probably can keep it alive until the days are a bit longer and temperatures are a little warmer. |
RE: When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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| Thanks everyone for the very helpful information...this place is great. |
RE: When to Transfer from Perlite to Soil
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| I am not questioning what Al mentioned above but if I am rooting a cutting (with average experience), the mere survival of the rooted plant is my biggest desire and a big mass of roots in a cup gives me that opportunity. Let the plant be bonsaid for a little while below its genetic potentials which can be taken care of later when the plant has well established roots and shoots by root prunning, root spreading etc. |
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