What do you guys think of my rooting box?  

Cuttings are in a MG seed/cutting starter formula in a blue solo cup with lots of holes in the bottom of each.

The top is two plastic drawers I found in the basement and cut a side off of each to make a slide.

The bottom is a slotted on the sides and bottom plastic shallow bin. All of this is placed in the shade of my sugar maple.

I have cuttings in there that are important to me so I do NOT want to lose a single one.

Look OK? Anything I should do differently?

PS: dont be fooled by the leaves. This picture was taken right after I put the green cuttings under the cover.

You will lose one.  I don't know anyone who can turn 100% of sticks into trees.  Best realistic rooting-to-tree success I've seen (and been able to actually confirm) is like 75%.  I'm lucky if I hit 50%, even though, through some hacking of cuttings, I hit higher my first year based on initial cuttings taken versus cuttings successful.

The key to a rooting bin is that you maintain a level of humidity and a level of temperature, you don't have standing water, and you can air out the box easily every other day. 

I normally like to maintain humidity around 70% and temp around 70-80º F.  That's just me, others may have their own thing.  After you root for a couple of years, you'll probably stop paying critical attention to those numbers and just 'go with what's worked' (i.e. common sense).

I think it's more important to not overwater your rooting medium/soil than it is to worry about the rooting bin, but that's just me.  Rooting bin is another critical component.... but overwatering your rooting medium is the big killer.

What Jason says is about it. You won't get 100% success, especially if you are just starting. Though in the beginning you might be more prone to micro-managing and have better success. Or not.

To me the two biggest 'enemies' also are heat and too high moisture, and if these happen at the same time your cuttings most likely may not make it. 

I get nervous when the temps start to get over 75*F. About 2 weeks ago I had some fresh cuttings of two really good varieties get into the mid 80* and they are not prospering. Next time it gets that hot I'll put them in the wine cooler/cheese cave at 55* during the heat of day if necessary. 

Too moist a mix is also a problem. Mix that is barely damp is important, and then not watering cuttings till necessary.  I don't have a humidity meter, but since it's very dry here over the summer, I will use spray bottles when 'necessary'. Hard to explain when that is - guess it's gardener's instinct. In other words, I can tell by looking.

In summer I don't much worry about light since the days are long, but in winter, after cuttings put out new leaves, I'll supply extra light via florescents.

Good luck with your cuttings. It is a great deal of fun. :)

We all have our way of establishing roots.  Mine is different from yours, but I live in a different climate.  I wish you luck in what you do!

My best success is with seriously 24 hour soaked, then extremely rung out spangum moss, flanked by paper towels and changed every 1-3 days in a gallon zip lock, and wrapped in a towel so the roots to be think they are under ground.  I stick the green or dormant cuttings in that mix, and they root!  They love the spangum.  It discourages mold somehow.

It's never under 77 degrees or over 80 degrees, and that towel wrapping seems to keep them happy.

Suzi

It looks good Tim, good idea how you set it up. I don't think you are expecting a 100% success? But you should do well with that set up. Anything you lose is replaceable... I think

I dont expect 100%....75% would be nice. I just dont want to lose them all. All of my eggs are in this basket if you know what I mean. 

In my area the natural humidity is around 70 - 80 percent this time of year. The house is sitting at around 75 F and the cuttings are doing rather well/ 

I soak them for about 24 submerged after cutting to ensure the entire length has moisture. Then stand up straight for 9 to 10 days when the white spots start to elongate to 1/4 inch. At this point I am placing in a 75% perlite and 25% vermiculite. So far the cuttings are doing well. I have some that came in the mail on Wed this week whom are already gaining the white spots on day 5 just like the last batch. Now the leaves sprout at various rates per the branches own accord. However a month into this and all the cuttings have leaves on batch #1.

I should note: I change the water every day to lessen the amount of bacteria and other micro life that lives on the stem. Every other day I put the cuttings under a high stream of running water to clean them. The water is city based so has some disinfectant in the mix already. 

Waiting to see how batch #3 and #4 are going to do....
 

Chris