OK, so I've got a bunch of cuttings and keep changing my mind about what to do!!  I started some cuttings in 2# coffee tubs a few days ago - for got them - yeah I know 2-3 days is hardly forgetting them;)  Anyway, I peeked in tonight and saw some mold!  The tops of the cuttings were not covered in Sp Moss.  Should they be?  They were in there vertical or leaning to fit in the container.  I took them out, washed w/ bleach solution and decided to put them in a tote about 2x size of shoebox - that's what I have. 

I don't recall reading about this next part before, but how many cuttings are put in the box??  I decided to put a layer of waxed paper first (don't know why!!), then a layer of damp sp moss, put a few cuttings in, covered with more moss.  Since I have several varieties I decided to put them in the same box with parchment paper between the layers.  I put about 6 cuttings per layer about 2" apart. and put a label on top of the moss.

What do you think about this?  I was also thinking of doing some in 16oz cups with perlite - I thought I had 20oz cups but they are 16s.  I have all week of (WooHoooo!!!!) so I have time to redo these if I have to. 

Does the caliper of the cutting determine what technique you use to root?  The sizes are very different - thinner than a pencil to thick as a sharpie.  Some are 5" some are up to 9".

I also scraped some of them by just taking the top layer of bark off so the green shows and rubbed Green Light RooTing Hormone powder on them.  I didn't see hormex or any liquid or gel at the garden center.  I had purchased this last spring, it's been in the house so I am fairly confident it is still good.

I really need to not screw these up!! 

Comments or suggestions?

I've done it in sphagnum PEAT moss with success.  With my current 8 cuttings (about a week old), I had them in damp newspaper in a zip lock bag, but tonight, I put them in sphagnum moss (not peat) to keep the moisture more uniform.  I used a plastic shoebox bin with moss on the bottom, then 4 cuttings, layer of moss, then the other 4 cuttings, topped with more moss.  I placed the bin behind my computer which puts out warm air.  The lid is slightly cracked to allow some moisture to escape.  Not sure parchment paper is necessary.  Hope this helps.

Hi Frank, I guess it's the pastry chef in me with using parchment paper LOL.  I used the parchment since I have several varieties in the one bin - hopefully they won't get mixed up;)  What about caliper of the cutting?  Will that change anything?

Joann i wish i knew what would work best for you. i had to try a dozens of ways until i came up doing what i do know, but i am still trying other things as well. i have never got the baggie method down but still try. and can say i took one cutting from the bag last night that had alot of bumps a few roots starting and light yellow shoot with some yellow leaves. its in a cup right now and the leaf is turnning green.

I would say if you have alot of one kind then try a few differant methods. 2 baggie 2 perlite, 2 potted or whatever. try doing as many. i strongly think scoring is the way to go, but thats works for me. i have over 100 cuttings going now, every one scored and treated with harmone (dip n grow). i add some extra perlight to some miracle grow seed starting mix. i melt holes in a 16 oz great value cup from walmart. the cup with the holes has 9 holes in the side and 6 on the bottom three center and 3 on the outer ring. after filling the cup lightly to the top i pat it on the table one time to compact it lightly. one oz of water is put into a cup without holes and i slide the pottet cup in so it soaks up the water in the cup. I will set aside and repeat as i need to.  push treted cutting in center of soil and hold cutting as giving another pat on the taple. remove water cup and tap to cup as a dome. sett on top of freezr or warm bathroom. roots in 3 to 4 weeks great starts in 6 to 7 weeks.

I have another ideal i am working on that will ombine the best from a few methods. i will be building it in feb and will post about it with results. if you would like to hear any method i use in detail pm me and i will share what i know and why i use it.

Good luck

I'm anal. I keep cuttings in 1 gal ziplock bag. Each bag has only 3-5 cuttings of same type. If I see mold, paper towel and bag get replaced after cleaning the cutting. I air them out once every 2-3 days. I make sure the bag gets aired out also. And, I still get mold. If the mold doesn't go away, I trim the cutting where the mold is. Typically, mold is on the end of the cutting.

Joan, I clean my mold with dry toilet paper, using a clean paper for each wiping, so you don't spread the mold deep into the cutting. after all wiped, I use a very light alchool moisted one and wipe it again, let it dry and put it back. may have to repeat  a couple more times.

I learned that what works best for me is to put some moss in the plastic box, put the cuttings loosely over the moss, kinda crisscrossing them, so there is plenty of air in between them and cover them with a couple folded newspaper with bit moist in it, like a blanket over them, this way, I can move the newspaper and see all the cuttings - also, seems the mold go to the newspaper first, so, soon I smell it, or every 3 or 4 days I replace the newspaper blanket and since I am doing this way I had no problem at all!.

However, before I put them in the box, I soap and clean them well when I receive them, cut a tiny bit of their bottoms, do some scoring, dip in hormone... and I have no problem there. I do not put moss on top of them at all, they just sit on top of it.

I agree with Dave that you should try as many methods as you can to see what works best for you.  Most of us who use hormone use a liquid.  The powders don't seem to work.  Mold is always bad.  If you're getting it you might want to squeeze the moss out harder and dip your cuttings in bleach before you start.  Be sure there's no dead wood or leaf stem remnants before you bleach them.  Anything that's been exposed to mold - bags, containers, moss - all gets thrown away.  Or bleached, but if the same container gets moldy twice I'd toss it.  Bleach all tools between cuts and wash your hands.  Your box with parchment layers may not have enough air circulation.  I use translucent gas station cups, 1 cutting per cup surrounded by barely moist long fiber sphagnum and punch holes in the bottom, sides and lid.  My other favorite method is the Uline bag method with dirty perlite.  


JoAnn, when I'm not using perlite, I do it Sphagnum style - whup, whup, whup, whup sphagnum style, pretty lady.   :)

My process for getting roots started is simular to yours except the sphagnum moss surrounds the cutting completely and will usually stop all mold growth. You can wash the cuttings in a 10% bleach solution (1/4 cup fresh bleach to 2-1/4 cups water) for added insurance before starting the rooting process (pat dry with clean paper towels and place in the Sphagnum Moss). I have yet to wash my cuttings, the moss has always worked for me. Cutting caliper does not matter, but I prefer thicker cuttings.

Starting in cups eliminates the above process, but has its own procedures which have to be followed for successful rooting.

Mold is mostly an issue of not enough fresh air, combined with high humidity. See Rooting. This method keeps the humidity high around the cutting, but allows you to lower the humidity in the air. I only see mold on one cutting in a thousand this way, with the cuttings in a greenhouse. Also the sphagnum moss seems to have natural anti mold qualities. I have been using 75% coarse perlite, 20% well chopped long fiber sphagnum moss and 5% thoroughly composted compost. If the compost is not fully composted it will continue to compost and compost your cutting as well.

Of course, Jon is right!  Jo-Ann, thank God your name is not JO-Leen!  That Dolly Parton thing...... 

But there needs to be air!  You will get my answer in the mail soon.  This is a cutting, with no mold, in it's little one cup on top of the other greenhouse, sealed with masking tape.  Bottom where the roots are, is covered in foil.  I only soak the thing again when it feels light.

BUT if I see a sign of mold, I clip the mold, cover with a peroxide solution, or Physan20 (whichever is handy), let it sit a day in dry air, then, re-cup and amazingly these things live!

Suzi

I have all my cuttings ready to go!!!  Some are Sp moss, some are in sp moss and perlite, some are in perlite only. 

Time will tell!