How deep do you plant the cuttings once they start rooting?

Does the depth depend on the height of the cutting?

Does the depth depend on the amount of nodes on the cutting?

Do you plant your cuttings by percentage?  ie 40% under, 60% above

I planted a few so far and put them deep enough so they look like they would stay up and di not touch the bottom of the cup - about 50/50.

I plant them as deep as i can. (as long as there is a bud sticking out the top of the soil) this allows the cutting to get roots all over whats under the soil, more roots better and stronger tree. thats my take on it anyway.

I like to pile in an inch or so of mix in before the cutting when using cups because water will stay perched at the bottom and then the cutting has more of a chance to rot. Plant bands have open bottoms that breathe so I never had that problem when using them. I also try to plant deep enough so that only one or 2 nodes are showing, that is usually about 2/3 deep. 1/2 will work air is humid, but if the cutting loses water too fast from dry air then it will die back to a bud closer to the soil level before growing.

Hi Joanne,

The answer you are seeking is "yes". It sound like you got the basics down and maybe what you are looking for is reassurance. From what see, I believe you are on the right track.

here is what worked for me:
I have a 10in depth X 2in across (bin/ban/tree pot). It works for me because cuttings normally range from 6" to 10" in length. If I am out of tree bands, I simply use 32oz soda bottles which requires a few drills for the bottom and sides of the plastic bottle (air circulation- we want it to breathe NOT drown). Then I threw in pre-soaked soil mix, eyeballed 2 inches of dirt at the bottom of the plant band and CAREFULLY placed the cutting in. Finally, bury the remaining amount NEEDED just above the last node of the soil line. Then I water again. You will see the soil sinking after the water has drained- adjust the soil again, meaning the volume needed to fill the cuttings to the last node.

My mix is equal parts. Truthfully, it is a fist full of this... A fistful of that..
Root starter Miracle Grow
Age Manure
Compost
Perlite (I use more)

Hope this helps. Works for me
Jennifer

i was going to take pictures of how i do peat pot method, but was under time stress, and didn't get to do that. i usually stick my index finger as deep as it will go into the soil and wiggle it around to make the hole to put in the cutting. if it's not deep enough, i might push in the cutting further, but usually that works for me.

if the cutting is not as long as i want it to be, i'll just make sure that one node is above the soil.

Once rooted, mine go into a 16oz clear cup.  About 1.5" of soil/perlite, then cutting.  This is based on cuttings under 8".

Only leaving one node just above soil layer. Is the best. For one, gives it more area for roots. For Two, has less area for cutting to dry out.

luke

My problem is getting the cup container with enough height The 16 oz cups are only about 5 inches high If I put 1.5 inch soil below the cutting and on a 10 inch cutting and it’s hard to only have the top node or 2 exposed.  You are looking at 3.5 under potting mix and a longer section exposed.  Even the 24 oz cups or 32 oz containers are not much taller only wider.  Last year I halved the cutting or shortened but really don’t want to do that based on what I read about ideal cutting. I am trying cutting the bottom of a 16 oz out inserting it in a 9 oz and that gets me about 7.5 inches in height. I am think about looking for the small tree bands.

I do as Luke and others do. Plant it deep enough so it can have a greater area of rooting possibilities. In this case more is better.
Happy rooting!

strudledog, Try using the bag method then. The normal size baggies are 3"x8". But there are many size bag's that you can order, if that's not what fits your needs. There are much bigger bags if that is what you need or want. just figure the size of the cups, then add the height your looking for. If your using 10" cuttings, use 10" tall baggies.


luke

Luke,
 I tried the bags, for that very reason last season on part of my plants, maybe I am too clumsy or maybe I need to put in the bags before the roots get as large as I let them for a cup.  I kept damaging them putting in and handling afterwards trying to keep them upright and spaced out. how do you folks get the bags upright spaced out enough so they are not crowded?

Hope this helps

Jennifer

Yes Jennifer  Thanks That's what I am thinking about moving to a more narrow version if I can find them. Those have the open bottom with sort of a basic cross support I think.

Those tall narrow pots that Jenn is using are great for long cuttings, you do want to bury as much as you can as more roots may for on burried nodes.

those works nice.. tall bin, but 16oz does it for me. 

strudeldog, when you use the baggies, the cuttings have not started to root yet. Your rooting the cutting in the bag. This is why I prefer the baggie method. If you root the cuttings first, there's a bigger chance at destoying the tender roots. Are you understanding what I mean about the baggie method? There are different methods. The one method that most are showing pics of lately, is the long spag moss in the bag to start roots. I prefer to use the one that you put pro-mix in 3"x8" or whatever size bag you prefer, wash the cuttings, then place in 10% bleach 90% water. Then put the cutting in til there's only one node above the soil line. If I had any computer skills, I would post the way to where someone has already took the time to take the pics with step by step instructions. Major thing is to have the soil damp, not soaking wet. I started over 600 cuttings last winter without any problems. Put all in large storage box with lid. Opening to let fresh air in every other day. If soil is to wet, let open to let dry out some. The containers that Jennifer shows are great to start cuttings in to ship. Hopefully this helps, cause it took me for ever to type.


luke

nice ....those cuttings look very good ...good job ...Jennifer,Pete

I guess I was trying to combine the methods starting them in sphagnum moss and then moving them into the small 3x8 uline type bags. I understand now that you put the cuttings straight into the bag with no pre-rooting. So many variations I guess. How long will they make it in the 3x8 until you move them up to a pot, and do you use anything in the bin to keep them vertical? With  bags side by side they seemed to crowded when leafs developed when I tried them. 

Thanks

Jennifer i have 50 9 inch anderson band pots and love em. great looking cuttings. and pete great job. i have moved more to the 16 oz cup for mass rooting. if i have more band pots that would be the way to go.

just my opinion.. breaking off few roots while transferring to a cup is fine, as long as you don't completely break all the roots. typically i break good half of the roots and they do fine. it will put out new roots. 

I bury about 3/4 of the cutting when potting up to 1 gal.

I initially started with 20 Oz cups, went to 32 oz deli containers, then to 11 inch tall 32 oz Tupperware type containers and now am using 16 oz clear cups. The 16 oz cups form a nice sized "plug" for planting into 1 gallon containers, It also reduces the risk of over watering ( which rots the cuttings) when there are few roots. The Plug is planted deeper in the 1 gallon container (and can develop roots higher up on the cutting)

I try to get 2 nodes below the soil line.

1 inch of mix is placed in the bottom of the cup.

The cutting is placed in the cup and the mix is loosely placed in around the cutting. The cup is then tapped lightly on the bottom to settle the cutting mix. It is never "watered in".

Note: I have used Elmer's school glue to seal the exposed cut end to stop the cutting from drying out from the top down, and getting roots developed as soon as possible allows the cutting to stay hydrated.

Basically everyone has there way of doing it, so it doesn't matter the diameter, or length of cutting (for the most part) you treat each cutting basically the same.  Hmmmm, not what I was expecting.