Hi Everyone,

Another newbie question again I'm afraid...

A couple of days ago I put 20 or so cuttings of various varieties into their own individual zip bags with each of them being wrapped in some damp kitchen towel/tissue but leaving both top and bottom of the cutting exposed.

My question is I notice that 3 of them are already showing signs of green swelling leaf buds at the end of the cutting without any sign of roots developing.  How far should I let these leaves develope before taking the cutting out of the bag and placing them into clear cups?

If it helps the cuttings are being stored in a dark hot water tank cupboard at a temperature that fluctuates between 74 and 79 degrees.

Thanks in Advance

once they put in the leaves, you need to keep an eye on them. there is a chance they will rot if not aired out often. doesn't really need to be placed in the dark .74-79 should be good. if the cutting has callus, put it in the cup with soil mix.

It seems to me the rot Pete mentioned happens more often if the leaf is in contact with the plastic bag.....i'm sure it is the condensation that does it.  It is why I prefer to use plastic shoe boxes and moss.  

Pete, doesn't light encourage leaves to grow more rapidly? That's my fear in rooting process, sims like green part always gets ahead of the rooting part ;/ I have pinched about 10% of the new growth on the cuttings during the rooting process due to rot on the tips. But when planted those pinched tips grow new tips in multiples.

Hi,
As soon as the leaves emerge, the cutting should be cupped or galloned and exposed to good light for the leaves to grow properly.
Just my way of doing ...

@jdfrance, what if it hasn't rooted yet, although most my cutting show callusing, would it act like  root and start feeding the cutting?

aaron, leaves will grow even if you don't want them to. pinching them off will only set them back. once the leaves are there, you need to use them to provide energy to the cuttings. even if you keep them in the dark, bud will break when it's time. except, those will be albino looking sickly buds since it never saw the light.

once the cutting has callus, there is a good chance roots will follow.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I checked last night and they do have calluses so have popped them in a cup of water in a high humidity box to avoid leaves rotting whilst I'm away for a couple of days. I will see how they they developed and pot on accordingly over the weekend.

Mark

Hi Aaron4usa,
When the cutting starts leafing, it will throw all its energy there.
If you remove leaves... new ones come back until the cutting has wasted all energy and you're ready for trashing it -IMO.
IMO - Providing light, the cutting will get some energy back from the leaves and stop throwing energy out. You have better chances to get roots that way, and get the cutting to go on.
What I did, I put a clear plastic bag over the pots to serve as a humidity dome and greenhouse. But then, I did water them too much.
Now most of them seem to be in good health - until next issue ...

makes sense jdfrance (i still don't know your name, LOL)