Howie73x
Registered:1338849266 Posts: 167
Posted 1347226090
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#1
I cut and stuck the scion into rockwool about a week ago. Now I have the worlds smallest Sicilian Red fig tree! Using rockwool has been my tried and true way, I get about 95% success rate. 1. soak scion with water mixed with rooting hormone 2. soak 1x1 inch rockwool with water mixed with rooting hormone, squeeze excess 3. firmly stick the scion end into the rockwool 4. saturate the rockwool cube every few days, its important to not let the rockwool cube dry out. 5. in about 7 days you should see roots!
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__________________ Zone 8 So Cal desert
Wishlist- Rouge de Bordeaux, Fig de Parfum, St. Rita, Pastiliere, Norland, Smith, (Native) du Argentile, Col de Dame Noir,
BLB
Registered:1214341548 Posts: 2,936
Posted 1347226925
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#2
That's pretty cool, don't know why no one else has tried this.
figs4me
Registered:1342232405 Posts: 98
Posted 1347227046
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#3
Cheer for u.
__________________Zone: 6B
NEGRETTA
DesertDance
Registered:1247674606 Posts: 4,518
Posted 1347227079
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#4
Where do you get rockwool? I've heard of it here but know nothing about it. Suzi
__________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!
Nichole
Registered:1333814555 Posts: 878
Posted 1347227426
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#5
I am definitely going to try this.
__________________ Seattle area - Zone 8b http://www.niroha.com Fig Inventory https://sites.google.com/site/nicholesgardeninventory/fig-trees Wish list: Barbillone, Black Triana, Brooklyn Dark, Brooklyn White, Figo Branco, Figo Preto, Grantham Royal, Grisse de St Jean, Honey Jumbo, LSU Gold, LSU Scott's Yellow, Matta, Noire De Caromb, Panevino Dark, Roja, Syrian Long, Uncle Corky's Honey Delight
Figluvah
Registered:1297432492 Posts: 1,111
Posted 1347227474
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#6
Suzi, They get rockwool from rock sheep......But it does not get clipped but once every decade,,,,so it is/could be quite expensive. IT WAS A JOKE>>>>>
__________________ Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx
(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
BLB
Registered:1214341548 Posts: 2,936
Posted 1347228329
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#7
Suzi, try a greenhouse supply company either local or on the web, Charlie's is a good one. Rockwool is cheap
dkirtexas
Registered:1341345900 Posts: 1,330
Posted 1347229848
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#8
Cecil, That was good!
__________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.
DesertDance
Registered:1247674606 Posts: 4,518
Posted 1347230055
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#9
Jeeze Cecil :-(! Thanks Barry :-))! Suzi
__________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!
james
Registered:1189185103 Posts: 1,653
Posted 1347234231
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#10
I've used rockwool in the past, but now mainly for air-layering small limbs. The problem I had was controlling the amount of water in it. Now I soak it, then set it on a sponge to wick the excess moisture out. When I put it around a limb and wrap it in plastic, it retains enough moisture for the limb to root. One of the neat things about the rockwool system is when you have roots in the small 'plugs' they fit inside a hole in the larger cubes so the roots have more of the medium to grow into. It's like potting up without risk. It is available at most hydroponic stores.
__________________ In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b) In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr , Viōlette Dā uphine . Iranian figs are always welcome.
Maro2Bear
Registered:1344284082 Posts: 732
Posted 1347234587
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#11
All
This looks like a good place to start looking at rockwool products:
http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/rockwool.asp
__________________ Mark B., Glenn Dale, MD Zone 7a
noss
Registered:1244523274 Posts: 2,122
Posted 1347235153
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#12
Cecil! LOL! Suzi, you're supposed to laugh at that. Not :-(! It really was funny. I've heard those rock sheep don't eat very much, so their rock wool grows very slowly, thus the once a decade shearing and I've also heard it's murder on the clipper blades..... ;D noss
__________________ noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
noss
Registered:1244523274 Posts: 2,122
Posted 1347235413
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#13
That's very interesting, Mark. Thanks for the link. We had rock wool insulation in our house and it breaks down after awhile into tiny fibers--Not good to breathe in. How is the horticultural rock wool different from the insulation, do you know? Thanks, noss
__________________ noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
dawgdrvr
Registered:1326421951 Posts: 217
Posted 1347236465
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#14
I definitely have got to try this next year. My Sicilian Red cuttings took for EVER to root . I bought them off of Ebay in March and the first one to root was in mid June. 2 of the 3 didn't make it though.
__________________ Cody
Grand Mound,WA 98579
Plantmaps Zone 7~A, Sunset Zone 4 and USDA Zone 8~A.
WISH LIST: San Pedro ,Breba & Early crop Figs and ANY figs from 'Belleclare Nursery'
Boris
Registered:1296846336 Posts: 117
Posted 1347243298
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#15
Howie, Tell us please what kind of rooting hormone you use and how much do you put of it per a given amount of water. Thanks
eden13
Registered:1340340693 Posts: 788
Posted 1347253669
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#16
I like this way rockwool is mach chipper then perlite.
__________________ Wish List: Col de Dame Negra and Gris, Noire de Caramba, Abicou Noire, Zingarella, Sultan, Dalmatie and any Yugoslavian(Bosnian, Serbian,Croatian...).
Atlanta, Georgia
Eden
bullet08
Registered:1284496248 Posts: 6,920
Posted 1347277465
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#17
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figluvah Suzi, They get rockwool from rock sheep......But it does not get clipped but once every decade,,,,so it is/could be quite expensive. IT WAS A JOKE>>>>>
always nice to start the day with good laugh :)
__________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher ***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. ***** ***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
Figluvah
Registered:1297432492 Posts: 1,111
Posted 1347283817
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#18
@ Danny, Noss & Pete I am glad someone saw the humor in what I said! From the looks of it, there was someone that didn't :-( maybe another one now that I think of it!
__________________ Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx
(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
DesertDance
Registered:1247674606 Posts: 4,518
Posted 1347290409
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#19
Quote:
Originally Posted by noss Cecil! LOL! Suzi, you're supposed to laugh at that. Not :-(! It really was funny. I've heard those rock sheep don't eat very much, so their rock wool grows very slowly, thus the once a decade shearing and I've also heard it's murder on the clipper blades..... ;D noss
OK Cecil, you smart A&^&*! NOTHING was funny to me yesterday! I had losses on 4 of my 7 fantasy football teams. Oh the sorrow.... Peyton Manning saved my day, and who'da thunk Aaron Rodgers would let me down? :-( I did appreciate the nice answers about the rockwool, though, and the helpful links. Thanks everybody! Suzi :-))
__________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!
Nichole
Registered:1333814555 Posts: 878
Posted 1347293549
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#20
The funny went over my head. I googled rock sheep lol
__________________ Seattle area - Zone 8b http://www.niroha.com Fig Inventory https://sites.google.com/site/nicholesgardeninventory/fig-trees Wish list: Barbillone, Black Triana, Brooklyn Dark, Brooklyn White, Figo Branco, Figo Preto, Grantham Royal, Grisse de St Jean, Honey Jumbo, LSU Gold, LSU Scott's Yellow, Matta, Noire De Caromb, Panevino Dark, Roja, Syrian Long, Uncle Corky's Honey Delight
snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1347295650
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#21
RockWool huh? I need to try that stuff. I playing around with new stuff. Speaking of playing around....I found a rooting horemone that I found that gave me 100% rooting success. This called Hormonex. It's a red concentrated liquid in a short white bottle. You only place the end tip in the solution, not the whole cutting. So far every cutting that I used it on rooted long hard roots. You know when you start cuttings in spaghmum moss and have to be careful not to rip or tear the roots off a cutting? You don't have to worry about that with this stuff. This stuff help the cutting create long hard roots. No joke! I'm very surprised this stuff worked!. The saleman told me it is a professional mix and to give it a try. I got a tray of English Brown Turkey cutting that I started to prove my point. In a few hours, I'll post some pics of this stuff and the cuttings I started 4 weeks ago. Anyone else try this stuff? Here is a link to the web site.http://www.hormex.com/?gclid=CITD7qS6q7ICFYQQNAod8lMAEA
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
Figluvah
Registered:1297432492 Posts: 1,111
Posted 1347297862
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#22
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nichole The funny went over my head. I googled rock sheep lol
Nichole.....Tell me ya didn't.....HAHA..I know, I'm just baddddddd.
__________________ Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx
(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
BLB
Registered:1214341548 Posts: 2,936
Posted 1347298783
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#23
Cecil, I'm fine with jokes, but the poor girl needed to know the truth. I would've told the joke then the truth, just sayin.
Figluvah
Registered:1297432492 Posts: 1,111
Posted 1347299002
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#24
Barry, I think I should have did it that way, But I thought she would have caught it as soon as she read that crap....HAHA.....Guess not!
__________________ Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx
(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
BLB
Registered:1214341548 Posts: 2,936
Posted 1347299259
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#25
It's all well that ends well Cecil
Figluvah
Registered:1297432492 Posts: 1,111
Posted 1347299438
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#26
Quote:
Originally Posted by BLB It's all well that ends well Cecil
I fully agree.....I'll never do that again..........Until the next time.
__________________ Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx
(Elkhart/Palestine TX)
Figfinatic
Registered:1330272993 Posts: 761
Posted 1347299488
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#27
When you put the cutting in the pot, do yout take the cutting out of the rock wool or put the whole thing in the soil?
__________________ Wish: Sbayi, passiflora incense, quadrangularis or others
Chivas
Registered:1283819505 Posts: 1,675
Posted 1347311518
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#28
I use rockwool in a commercial greenhouse and the Rockwool we get is spun from molten balsalt rock. It is very itchy if you get some all over you, however it's rarely dusty, we also have it in plastic sleves when we get, some people steam it for 12 hours and re seleve it, it retains more moisture the more times you use and steam it. How it is different from the insulation, as far as I know the difference is how the fibres are arranged, wetting agent and material to make it.
__________________ Canada Zone 6B
rcantor
Registered:1309799312 Posts: 5,724
Posted 1347338949
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#29
Do you put the cutting in parallel to the fibers or perpendicular?
__________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
Chivas
Registered:1283819505 Posts: 1,675
Posted 1347362261
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#30
I just stuck some last night, 1 VdB, 1 Black Maderia, 1 RdB and 2 Marseilles Black vs. I am hoping to see the same results. These rockwool plugs have a pre drilled hole which makes sticking small cuttings easy.
__________________ Canada Zone 6B
Grasa
Registered:1347083219 Posts: 1,819
Posted 1347429672
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#31
That is impressive! Every rooting hormone that I try to purchase reads "not for feed" and "not for food", so, what hormone do you use for your 'food', hence the figs...
__________________ Grasa
Seattle, WA
Howie73x
Registered:1338849266 Posts: 167
Posted 1347431210
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#32
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figfinatic When you put the cutting in the pot, do yout take the cutting out of the rock wool or put the whole thing in the soil?
You put the whole thing in the soil. I use Dip N Grow rooting hormone, at a capful per gallon of water.
__________________ Zone 8 So Cal desert
Wishlist- Rouge de Bordeaux, Fig de Parfum, St. Rita, Pastiliere, Norland, Smith, (Native) du Argentile, Col de Dame Noir,
Howie73x
Registered:1338849266 Posts: 167
Posted 1347440851
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#33
Few more tips for higher success. -if mold or fungus is a problem, use humidity domes -maintain high 82-85 degree F, or use heating pad -when rockwool cubes dehydrate, saturate with water mixed with rooting hormone, its SUPER important not to let cubes dry out, the alcohol in the rooting hormone works as a disinfectant -use 3x3 to 5x5 inch rockwool for bigger limbs
__________________ Zone 8 So Cal desert
Wishlist- Rouge de Bordeaux, Fig de Parfum, St. Rita, Pastiliere, Norland, Smith, (Native) du Argentile, Col de Dame Noir,
Rewton
Registered:1291943117 Posts: 1,946
Posted 1349312150
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#34
Howie, I am going to try this so thanks for posting it. Here's a couple questions: - I'm trying to picture what supportive structure the moist rockwool + cutting is in during the rooting process. I was imagining putting the cutting/rockwool in a cup with a plastic bag "tent" over it to keep the humidity up. Does this sound reasonable? - Have you tried this with dormant cuttings? - is 82-85 degrees really required? How about 70-75 degrees which is much easier to achieve? - How long do you soak the cutting in the diluted rooting hormone solution before putting the cutting in the rockwool?
__________________ Steve MD zone 7a
Howie73x
Registered:1338849266 Posts: 167
Posted 1349322615
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#35
Rewton, The cup with a humidity dome is perfect, just make sure the rockwool cube doesn't dry out. You also don't want the rockwool super drenched. Make sure to dunk the rockwool into fresh diluted rooting solution about once a week. The acid in the rooting hormone works as an antibacterial/disinfectant. I've tried it with dormant cuttings. I've noticed faster root development at higher temps, I'm sure it'll work at lower temps too. I've soaked for 1 to 12 hours. Make sure rockwool is big enough. If you have a 6 inch cutting. Use a 5x5 rockwool cube. You can put 4, 6 inch cutting into 1 5x5 rockwool cube, just insert one cutting in each corner of the rockwool cube, and cut the cube into 4 pieces.
__________________ Zone 8 So Cal desert
Wishlist- Rouge de Bordeaux, Fig de Parfum, St. Rita, Pastiliere, Norland, Smith, (Native) du Argentile, Col de Dame Noir,
dawgdrvr
Registered:1326421951 Posts: 217
ascpete
Registered:1336096379 Posts: 1,942
Posted 1349400965
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#37
Howie, Thanks for posting. Could you please post a picture or info of the cuttings progress and growth. Thanks
Rewton
Registered:1291943117 Posts: 1,946
Posted 1349401761
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#38
Cody, that looks like a good set-up. Steve
__________________ Steve MD zone 7a
dawgdrvr
Registered:1326421951 Posts: 217
james
Registered:1189185103 Posts: 1,653
Posted 1350699106
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#40
Does the rooting hormone lower the pH of the water the Rockwool is soaked in? I normally soak my Sphagnum Moss in a weak liquid humate solution. I was planning on doing the same with the next batch of Rockwool.
__________________ In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b) In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr , Viōlette Dā uphine . Iranian figs are always welcome.
dawgdrvr
Registered:1326421951 Posts: 217
Posted 1354871630
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#41
UPDATE on my Rockwool experiment : 10 of the 12 small cuttings were transplanted 2 weeks ago into 4 OZ. cups .Two of the Genoa didn't make it . this is my GO-TO for small cuttings from now on .
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__________________ Cody
Grand Mound,WA 98579
Plantmaps Zone 7~A, Sunset Zone 4 and USDA Zone 8~A.
WISH LIST: San Pedro ,Breba & Early crop Figs and ANY figs from 'Belleclare Nursery'
saxonfig
Registered:1258080612 Posts: 1,370
Posted 1354892488
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#42
Hey dawgdrvr. I have to thank you for re-starting this thread. I hadn't seen this at all until today. I haven't read the entire thread because I couldn't stop laughing once I got to post #20. Thank you cecil and nochole!! No better way to start the day than with a good laugh. Actually I thought rockwool just came from really old, retired sheep. Poor things ;) . Oh yea, using the rockwool to start cuttings....that's pretty good too.- he he.
__________________Fig Well An d Prosper! Bill - SW KY. Zone 6b. 36.5N I'm fruitnut on ebay.
snaglpus
Registered:1244258188 Posts: 4,072
Posted 1354894909
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#43
There's a huge English Brown Turkey fig tree not far from me. I'm gonna get a bunch of cuttings from it and test out my tray of Rock wool. I've talked to several nurseries this year from NC to Texas asking them how they start their fig cuttings. Most told me they use rock wool with bottom heat between 70 and 73 degrees. So, come January 5th, I will test this method with a bottom heat mat at 73 degrees and a clear dome lid.
__________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a
Lebmark
Registered:1345531613 Posts: 327
Posted 1354897519
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#44
Thanks Howie I am going to give it a try, I checked Amazon, they do Have it. Chec the linkhttp://www.amazon.com/Grodan-Rockwool-Cubes-Inches-Pack/dp/B0002IU8UW Mark
__________________ Zone 7 Brooklyn,NY. Fig Wish List 2014: I-258 Genovese Nero, Violet Dauphine , Noir De Caromb, ROUGE DE BORDEAUX , BARNISOTTE, BARNISOTTE GRIS, Anything Lebanese ( I mean Fruit Plants...That I do Not Have...)
MichaelTucson
Registered:1333340598 Posts: 1,216
Posted 1354911564
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#45
I just wish that stuff was less expensive. Perlite and cups seems to cost about one twentieth as much, if you buy any serious quantity of either. Mike
__________________Pauca sed matura.
ForeverFigs
Registered:1351425467 Posts: 1,062
Posted 1354971464
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#46
I'm going to give it a try. 95% success rate with very quick rooting is what got my attention. Purchased a bag of 45 rockwool cubes(1.5"x1.5"x1.5") for $4.72 (+ shipping, eg. more than the cost of the cubes). Then a 2oz. bottle of Dip 'N Grow rooting hormone for $11.80 + shipping. I already have the deli cups and a brand new "yellow" sponge to put in the bottom of the cup, and I'm ready to go. Will give an update as soon as I get the project started (eg. as soon as the products come in the mail).
__________________ Vince
Edison N.J.
Zone 6b
Wish List: LaRadek's EBT
ascpete
Registered:1336096379 Posts: 1,942
Posted 1355455268
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#47
I had never used Dip and Grow until it was posted here, so I thought I would give it a try. Most cuttings that I had done prior to using Dip and Grow had callus and root initials within 3 weeks. Thanks. Pictures taken today of the cuttings and their progress. the procedure was as follows. 1. Score cuttings with knife (scrape off bark 1/8 inch wide approximately 1 inch long at 3 places between the lowest 2 nodes, think potato peeler) 2. Brush on Dip and Grow at 10X mix. 3. Place in Zip lock Bag with moist Sphagnum Moss (wrung Completely dry, no visible moisture). Inflate and store at 76 Deg F. 4. After Callus and initials formation in 8 days potted to 16 Oz Cups 70% Perlite /10% Vermiculite / 20% MG Seed Starting Mix. Place in Rooting Zip lock Bag, Inflate and store at 76 Deg. F. 5.Take Pictures at 20 days for progress report.
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garden_whisperer
Registered:1353347580 Posts: 1,613
Posted 1355455935
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#48
I think rockwool is mainly used in hydroponics if im not mistaken.
__________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"
MichaelTucson
Registered:1333340598 Posts: 1,216
Posted 1355463489
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#49
Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverFigs Purchased a bag of 45 rockwool cubes(1.5"x1.5"x1.5") for $4.72 (+ shipping
Vince, where did you find rockwool for that price? Mike
__________________Pauca sed matura.
JoAnn749
Registered:1325443625 Posts: 1,184
Posted 1355474189
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#50
Link in post #11
__________________ Jo-Ann DFW TX, Zone 7b-8a Wish List: Black Madeira,, Kathleen's Black, Malta Black, Marseille VS Black, White Paradisio, LSU Scott's Black, Conadria, White Trianna, Marttineca Rimada, Excel, Peter's Honey, Bebera Preta (Abebereira), Strawberry Verte