Growing plants from cuttings ?

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Ive tried to grow some ficus pumilia and some begonia saxifraga from some cuttings I made . I dipped them in rooting powder and put them in a planting soil and kept the soil moist . Well after three or four days the cuttings wilted and died . What am I doing wrong , or rather how do I grow plants from cuttings ?

[Manuran]

Since your cuttings don't have roots, you have to keep the humidity around the cuttings a bit higher. You can do this by putting the potted cutting in a plastic bag or container. They can't replace the fluid from the soil, so you have to keep them from losing it to the air. Some plants will rot if you go too high humidity-wise. Others will be stubborn to root. You just have to experiment. Luckily, both of the plants you mention are not too problematic.
Good luck. I'm sure if you keep trying you'll succeed.

[Fyre]

Hi. Tell us a bit more about your process. It sounds right but...

Were the cuttings taken from your Viv, potted and then set out in a room on a window seal perhaps? If so, this may have been the reason. Coming from a humid environment to non-humid environment could cause them to die.

Keeping the cuttings in the viv should keep them from dying.

- -

tj

[stemcellular]

I just toss cuttings into their new setup and they always take. I actually have some ficus p. that is about 3 inches long growing up the glass without a root system. That said, my humidity is around 100%.

[JoshK]

Keep the cutting in a small cup of water, keep about 1-2" in the water and it will root in a couple days, then you can plant it! I don't use the root hormone in my tanks though. read the warnings just for it touching our skin, and imagine a frog soaking it up.

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Thanks guys .

[raimeiken]

does this apply to Hoyas and Dischidias also? or can I just put some sphagnum moss around them and just place them in the background (treen fern panels)?

[Ed Holder]

I place all my cuttings into a 32oz deli cup, add 1/2" - 1" of water, set the lid on very loosley and place under lights beside my vivs misting once a day. This method works fine for me.

Ed

[Dragas]

I have started trying versions of these

Hydroponics in soda bottles (Kidsgardening) Container Gardening


To keep it more humid, place another 1/2 on top of this system. Seems to be doing well so far, (then again I am only trying with a spider plant.)

[EricM]

Most of the frog tanks I use have a screen vent on the top. When the tanks are first started the vents are covered with some plastic to keep the humidity high. Usually a plastic ziploc bag folded over does the trick. Like Chuck stated, high humidity is really the make it or break part of getting the plant going. Otherwise they dry out quickly.

It is also good to let the plants get established before adding frogs, especially larger ones like tincts or galacts; they can destroy smaller delicate plants by traveling over them.

Another good strategy is too start a cutting tank with sensitive or delicate plants along side something that grows incredibly fast and is bullet proof. The fast growing plant will create a humidity gradient in the tank that may allow the delicate ones a better chance to establish itself. It is imperative to keep an eye on the fast growing species so it doesn't choke out the slower growers. Once the sensitive plants are established the fast growers can be removed or cut back.

The two fast growers I use are Begonia thelmae, a dark green Philodendren, and a Pepperomia sp. All three of these are soft stemmed and easy to cut or pull out of vivariums. Plus they grow like weeds.

For small epiphytes like Dischidias and ferns, place the cuttings on a slab of tree fern in a tank with high humidity. I usually put a layer of wet sphagnum moss on the bottom of the tank and then lay the treefern piece on top of it. If the lighting is good and the tank is pretty much sealed the cuttings will do well. The moss should stay wet for a long time if you lightly mist the tank a few times a week.

Many plants will seemingly not grow for a long time and then take off. So be patient. It may be a month or so before you really notice anything, some of the plants take forever it seems, but once they get going you will be able to make more cuttings and start them up in other tanks.

Hope this helps
Eric