hiya, guys. i started nine cuttings from the same tree.  one grew roots in 6 days. i transplanted it and in three days it also had leaves.

the other cuttings are sitting there. i assume some will root, but i'm just wondering if the rapid growth of this first one will make it a better tree? will it always grow faster? adapt to inground planting better? be hardier?

i feel like i should treat this one special, am i right?

Hi Susie,

In my limited experience of one season of growing out 19 trees from cuttings..I have to say in the end you can never tell. Hardiness is genetics and some adaptation or climatization. Speed of growth is tricky, some just start growing when they are ready to grow. Others that grew fast in the begining will sometimes grow great and then stop and take a rest for some unkown reason and in that time frame the slower growers catch up. The trees of all different varieties that I kept for myself are all relatively the same size, yes some are a little bigger and have thicker caliber but in general there isn't a ton of difference. Others that were slower to get started and were give aways, still grew about the same rate once they were happy and got going. For me, the point of happiness for my trees was once they were outside, hardened off to full sun, and in a pot that was ~3Qt/Ltrs or larger and actively growing.

With all said, the first one growing will likely be your baby. Congratulations, it's a girl!

For many years, I stuck the sticks in a planter or in the ground. I can't speak for those cuttings. The last four years I've used rooting methods which have allowed me to visually see the roots before planting. For those years:

Faster roots = less success (both in terms of less vigor and higher loss).

I do not have an explanation as to why this is the case.

hank you, calvin. i was starting to think no one would give me an opinion on this.

wow , james! that's just amazing. very contra intuitive.

I haven't noticed what James has reported but I'll look for that this year.  I fertilize mine as soon as I see roots so that may make a difference.

bob, what do you fertilize with? i haven't used any yet.

Susie,

Six days?  Was that with hormones or without? 

 without, will. i had to shorten it before potting, so  i put some on the new cut. i don't know if it leafed out faster, tho.

Interesting.   I know hormoned cuttings that root fast I had a horrible time with them just croaking before leafing out.  I can't comment on non hormoned cuttings that root that fast as I have never had one do that.  I think the fastest non hormone treated cutting I had root was like 16 days and most are 30 days or so.    

well, the rest of them are heading for the 16-30 day thing. it was just this one that was so speedy. i see buds growing on some, but no roots.

i just used hormones on fresh cut surfaces when  some were too long. i'm not seeing any difference.

Bob is right!  I used to stick my nose up at Miracle Grow until Jon recommended it for a dying fig.  It saved that fig, but something else killed it once it got into the ground.  I guess it wasn't meant for this earth!  I use Miracle Grow a lot now! 

Susie,
I would agree with Calvin's comment in post #2. My experience has been similar. If the cuttings are given progressively larger containers before the roots get crowded, and are placed outside as soon as possible (if temperatures are warn enough), they have maintained steady growth. Also early growth has not been indicative of future long term growth.

I use Miracle Grow general purpose fertilizer at 1 Teaspoon / Gallon of water every week on cuttings, once they have established roots.
Good luck.

thanks, bob n suzi, i've got MG around. i'll try some. i stopped using it because it doesn't have micro nutrients, but maybe new cuttings don't need them.

thanks, pete. i guess my idea of future growth based on initial root growth was wrong.