I got a 1 month old vdb cutting that is rooting really well, but no leaf or any sign of green.
Please help.

Do you see a visible bud? If so is it green and plump?
If there is a bud below the soil level then it's probably swelling and getting ready to grow.
Give it some time. You did the hard part by getting roots. Leaves will follow.
Since there are no leaves yet it won't be using as much water so just keep it moist but not soggy or you'll rot the roots.

Sometimes it takes awhile to push out leaves. The other possibility is the bud eye, (where the leaf should grow) is damaged 
I'd give it a couple of months before I would do anything.

No buds. No green. It looks like a dry up stick.  It is in outdoor shade. 

How do I determine damaged bud eye? and how to fix it?

If it is a dried up stick, it's dead.  Since the roots are growing, it probably isn't a dried up stick.

You could cut a small slice off the top of the cutting to see if it is still green - I'd cover it with wax if you do that.

You're in much better shape to have roots and no leaves than the other way around.

I'd suggest you just leave it alone/ignore it.  You can't 'fix' anything, so just let it do whatever it is going to do.


Andrew

thanks.. I just have to be patient.

This past year one cutting put out nice roots relatively quickly around Nov. 1 and then took until mid-March to finally break bud.  That's an extreme example but it happens.  I think in that case what finally triggered it to break bud was probably warmer temps but in other cases more intense light seems to help.

Just be patient. I've had a couple that took a long long time to leaf out. Some eventually died but most just wanted a little more time.  Try moving it out into the sun to see if that stimulates some growth.

thanks.

I am in tx. IT is in the 80's approaching 90. So that should be warm enough. just waiting.

I have a rooted cutting that has been in my humidity chamber for most of the winter with no leaves. Growing these things really teaches one patience.

Kane: I agree.

pretty common problem, I've got dozens like this. Last year I took the ones that did this and just left them buried in a large pot almost forgot about them until this spring when some started leafing.

This year I'm experimenting with notching right above where a leaf node should grow. I'm not saying this works but it's an experiment to see if it helps the leaf bud to grow out sooner. If the roots are alive it will probably continue to grow.

Perhaps give it more humidity by covering the top so the exposed portion doesn't desiccate before it has a chance to produces leaves.

Fertilizing it with half houseplant strength fertilizer should help.  As was mentioned before be sure not to over water.

Another thing you can try is Keiki paste.  You scrape a small piece of bark and put a dab there.  It works best if you put it on a node (just barely scrape some brown off if you do that).

Good luck.

It's also possible that the top has died but there are parts underground that are pushing buds that you can't see. If this is the case it could take awhile for the bud to get above soil level

thanks all. the top does not look dead. still thick and not wrinkly. I may try Keiki paste.  Charlie: that is crazy. Also I live in tx where the temp is now mid-80 with humidity ranging from 40-60%.