Hey everyone,

I know I'm probably becoming a nuisance with all my questions, but I've got a new one.  I was convinced that some of my cuttings' roots haven't been growing anymore.  To figure it out, I marked the root tips on the side of the cup with a marker.  Sure enough, after 48 hours that looks to be the case.  The white roots are growing well, the roots with brown segments or tips have stopped growing altogether.

Does that mean those roots are dead?  Too wet maybe?  More importantly, do those roots, even if they don't grow, still provide any benefit to the cutting?

Thanks in advance.

This does happen. There are different types of roots. If you look a the pictures closely in my propagation thread you will see what I mean. For example I have had white roots that turned thick brown. I also notice that the brown covering sometimes split where it was the thickest revealing a white/green interior. These roots didn't seem to grow in length where I could see them yet they didn't decompose and disappear. They were heavy and woody when I transplanted them (see the pic again). It's hard to over water perlite but be careful. I only add a little water to the rooting cuttings once every 5-10 days sometimes less.
I have a plant that a generous forum member gave me and its growing in Pro-Mix I think. It has these thick brown roots like I described above.

Awesome.  I actually used your thread for reference to good roots, and saw a few roots that had turned brown in some of your pictures.  Just wanted to see if it was common or if it was considered a problem at all.

Hi Brett,

Do your cups have holes in the bottoms to let excess water drain out?? I had a look at your other post and couldn't see holes in the pics. If your lighting and temperature hasn't changed and the roots have stopped growing and I would say that is likely not a positive thing.. especially if they are thinner roots.

Just the other day I went to pot up a cutting that had some excellent roots showing all over the cup wall only to find the cutting had rotted at the bottom and the roots were actually dead where they grew out from the cutting.. despite looking nice and healthy at the cup edge. The perlite had clumped together around the cutting (due to small particle size and dust). Because of that yesterday I went through quite a few cups I started cuttings in 2 weeks ago and carefully dumped out the perlite and sifted it through a strainer. It resulted in half of the perlite being removed which was shocking. Some of these cuttings I could see where too wet and could not breathe due to the this clumping effect and would have rotted eventually. I would have a look at that one if the roots are not looking good. If there is any rotting I would cut that off until you have good green wood again and pot it back up in sifted perlite. 

Tyler

Just like a fresh branch shoot, roots also undergo a process of lignification where they mature from succulent material to more hardened, fiberous material.  There is a color change from white to brown when this occurs.  Could be that's what's going on as well.

They do have holes at the bottom.  I do think they are too wet though.  I gave them some 1/4 strength rooting fertilizer and that's when many of the roots began to turn brown.  I don't think its fert. burn, as it was pretty dilute stuff.  It is mostly where the roots are in contact with the sides of the cups, where there's condensation.  My bet is that I just overwet them....the roots closer to the top are doing great, the ones at the bottom are turning brown.  I think I'll just let them dry out a bit and not water/fertilize for a week or two...maybe when I do fertilize I'll do it with as little as possible.

They're also not going through their water very quickly, as all cuttings are still in the humidity bin...which could be my other problem.  Maybe the ones with good roots need to come out and be allowed to dry out just a touch.  Either way, I'm still pretty happy with results.  75% or so have rooted so far...just gotta keep them alive now.

There is no doubt in my mind that some roots die. I see dead roots in my cups. Not every root is going to make it all the time.
It hasn't been an issue so far in the cuttings I've rooted.

Trees also use the smaller succulent 'feeder roots' disposable-style; not all of them become permanent roots, some die back, decompose and are re-absorbed eventually.
I'd say as long as you see fresh root development and the cutting/plant seems healthy, soil or medium has some moistness to it(but not too much!), you're okay.   That being said, I've had a few cuttings that showed roots and budded out fizzle on me for no reason.  I discarded them as they were extras, deciding I didn't want to baby any plant that couldn't thrive if I had that same variety doing well.

check one cutting and bare it of the soil its and look if the bark is intact throughout its length. If not, at this stage maybe its still salvageable if you cut the dead bark of befote it rots the rest of the cutting.

BTW what soil is it, I have used before water retaining soil that rots roots easily

Brettjm,

With the proper balance of temperature, air, moisture and the exclusion of light, the roots should continue to grow with a healthy tan to white color. The exterior of roots lignify over time due to wet dry cycles, age and light, much like the bark on stems, but this happens over time. BTW, The mix and container need to be aerated so the roots can "breathe" to intake Oxygen and expel CO2.

Mine had done the same thing! Hopefully, they will be like mine, Survivors....:)

ascpete, my roots are definitely aerated, to an extent.  All my cups have holes in them on the bottom, and slits in the sides.  I was having some problem with leaf rot, or at least browning, so the past several days I've kept the bin cracked about 3/4" and a fan blowing on it from the far side of the room, so I should be getting some circulation, albeit it probably isn't great down there at the bottom of the bin. 

If its a pretty normal thing for the exterior roots (getting exposed to excess water, temp changes, etc) then I don't think I have too much to worry about. 

Elin, the soil is just moist perlite.


I think my solution stays the same though...just don't water/fertilize them for awhile to let some of that moisture get out.  They should use more moisture as their leaves develop anyways.

Thanks for the insight everyone.

-Brett

Too many Chefs in the kitchen...just say'n

That's a whole different issue.  Check these threads

figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/lets-see-your-winter-indoor-light-setups-6532491

figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/cheap-simple-growlight-sourcesetup-6584121

This made me paranoid. I have to check my cuttings now because I compacted the soil and pressed it. Need to loosen it before anything happenes. Thanks for the thread.

Edit:
Mold was growing on 2 cuttings and it helped get rid of it thanks. Now they are on loose soil.

Brett did you go through using the paper bag method or directly to perlite?

Elin,  a bit of both, actually.  Some were started in straight perlite, some were started in sphagnum in a bag, then moved to perlite once they rooted.

Brettjm,
Attached is a picture of healthy roots growing with the variables balanced.
 .
The roots should "look healthy" regardless of medium used.