| 4) Checking Root Development |
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Photos below are from 3 to 4 weeks into the rooting process—the
third week of May. |
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Yuk! Rotting occurs in about 5 out of 100. This can be
100% rot if you
try to root out of season, water cuttings too soon, or if the cutting is infected
to begin with. |
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When do you start to water? |
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When you have root buds, then you have to stimulate fine root
growth. I take a watering wand and walk quickly down the isle
lightly sprinkling the cuttings.
When you see the ribs of new
growth cuttings suck in (look at these above, near the soil
line) they are stressed. My rooting house is over 100 degrees
each day so I use a mister and lay down a light droplet cloud on
them. |
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New growth and/or flowering does not mean you have a rooted
plant. Even an unrooted tip will continue to grow; an unrooted
columns section will bud and grow tips yet not have roots.
Tips
and columns flower without being rooted. So do not pay any
attention to these events.
The only way to check for roots is to
pick up the cutting. When it picks up its flower pot with
itself, holding onto its soil, then you have a rooted plant. |
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