|
Mon, Jan 12, 09 at 23:57
| Before everyone starts hollering at me about this being a salvia forum and it is Im just a little bit proud of my effort at this with pics to show my progress. The cuttings are from cuphea shumannii which I found for the people at the hummer forum and this plant was popular and I wanted it again so I ran my experiment. In the first pic it shows the cuttings looking a bit weak and puny , but as time went on they became stronger and needed cutting again, judge for yourself. I decided to wick the cuttings in soil so I wouldnt worry about how much water to give them and it seems to be working. I dont know if the small cutting will root but its part of my experiment. Yes, I am giving them a wee bit of plant food, wonder if I should back off on that.
|
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by rich_dufresne z7 NC (My Page) on Tue, Jan 13, 09 at 7:50
| Once there are roots, it is safe to start feeding a plant starter formula. You may inhibit rooting if the cuttings are not yet rooted. |
|
- Posted by hybridsage (My Page) on Tue, Jan 13, 09 at 11:04
| Hummersteve: I use a spray bottle to mist the cuttings.Everything that I use is organic so don't have to worry about burning. My mix uses a 6-12-6 fertilizer(which builds a healthy root system) and a liquid rooting hormone called superthrive. That is very effective on many Salvias too. I usually put my cuttings in a diluted solution while they are waiting to be stuck.Your Cuphea is going to need some pinching to help w/ branching.What type plant food are you using ? Art |
|
| Warmth is another issue. Because I do my cuttings in the basement in winter where it is relatively cool they get bottom heat and get covered at first by the oldest sheet of plastic rap still in use. The problem at this time of year is getting healthy shoots for cutting. For me it means bringing plants out of cold storage on the porch, feeding them and putting them under lights. It usually takes less than a month to bring those plants to cutting stage. I can't speak for shumannii since I haven't tried it, but based on your head start, through a succession of cuttings you could have enough for a yard full by May. Some Cuphea are amazingly easy to root. With bottom heat David Verity can root in a week. It is the kind of plant to give a grower the confidence to try harder types. |
|
- Posted by hummersteve 5/6 (My Page) on Tue, Jan 13, 09 at 15:05
| Ward-- You are correct in everything you have said. Warmth not being a problem since mine are inside. I could easily have a yardfull since the cupheas are so easy to root. The shumannii seem to be even more hardy than david verity. As you have said this trial run will give me confidence toward any salvia cuttings I may try later on. I may have to give some of these away. Art-- I also use a spray bottle while they are in the cutting mix and I dont use anything but water during that period ,except I do use rooting hormone. But once they are stablized in soil I have been using Peters specialties 12-36-14 at 1/2tsp per gal. I may need to back off on that and you are right I will need to do some pinching to force more branching. I have used superthrive but really couldnt tell it did anything. I do use rooting hormone on the cuttings though. |
|
- Posted by hummersteve 5/6 (My Page) on Tue, Jan 13, 09 at 22:34
| Art--- Have you ever heard of or used Byron's famous tea recipe? I use it on all my seeds and cuttings, so much so now that I dont really think much about I just do it. Supposedly it also helps keep away dampoff. |
Here is a link that might be useful: byrons famous tea recipe
|
- Posted by hybridsage (My Page) on Wed, Jan 14, 09 at 21:26
| Thanks for the link to the Tea Recipe. I will use it on my salvias too. Art |
|
- Posted by hummersteve 5/6 (My Page) on Wed, Jan 14, 09 at 22:26
| Art-- I hope you knew I didnt mean to say I use the tea on cuttings , I meant to say -- I use it on all my seeds and seedlings. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Salvia Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.