Why is it that the cuttings you treasure the most take the longest to root?  So far this year I have started about 50 new varieties.  Of those 50 the 3 I was most keyed on were Sangue Doce, Black Madeira (which I seem to have a curse with) and St. Rita.   Could add CDD Griss but it gets a pass as it hasn't been in moss long. 

While cuttings of other varieties I received the same day as the BM Sangue Doce and St. Rita have rooted...were cupped and the cups are filling with roots there sits these 3 varieties.....seemingly happy but stubbornly rootless.   Is it like a watched pot never boils?    Recently a kind member sent me 2 Maltese Falcon cuttings.....rooted in 10 days.  But St. Rita, Sangue Doce and Black Madeira mock me.  

Does anyone know if there is a patron Saint of rooting?  

Will,

Although I didn't have a problem starting a BM from a cutting it is a slow grower here.
Didn't have a problem with St Rita either.

But I cursed every time I tried to start a CDD Gris from a cutting. Failed on multiple attempts. Finally I was lucky to get a bare root one. I will snip the tip before it wakes up so I can force it to branch out this coming growing season.

Some cultivars would be much easier to just go and air-layer ( when able ) and call it the day.


Good luck

Rafed,

Well these 50 are all new to me...so air layering was out unless I wanted to drive to Massachusetts :)   The BM cuttings are nice, thick.....they have now been in moss 30 days and that was with a very light dose of clonex.  

When you failed with the Gris was it a cup failure or just didn't root at all?  

Will,

I understand it will be difficult if not impossible to air layer 50 cultivars with limited time and space. LOL
I doubt I would want to do that for anyone.

The answer to the question on the CDD Gris is all of the above.
Not rooting, rotting or show a spark but turn out to be a dud.

I have heard some success stories from others. I just simply failed with my attempts.

IMO,
I don't know if I would use Clonex while rooting in moss.
I would just stick them in the bag with moist moss.

Rafed,

Well......that ship has sailed my friend:)  

Wills, 

I don't know anything about Sangue Doce and its rooting habits but St. Rita and CdD Grise rooted easily for me and we're in the same location.  Both of them are vigorous rooters in cups as well.  Hmmm...in any case, I've got you covered :-)

I sympathize with you, I had a few that took several weeks to show any sign of rooting, but then had success it was the "Orphan" variety.....my other slow growers eventually did nothing or molded.

Well, good luck.  When I have non-responders I change their environment.  Warmer, less moisture, different media, something.  Often that makes them root.

If you know 1h-indole-3-butanoic acid,rooting is very easy.

I'm not sure if this is off topic or not but there was a post on GW by lucky_p regarding rooting pear trees. "One thing that *might* be successful is doing the 'toothpick' trick - around Aug 1, take your pocketknife and make a stab incision all the way through the stem, just above a point where the present year's growth commenced, and stick a wooden toothpick through, to hold the wound open. Callus tissue will form there, as the tree begins to 'heal' the wound. Around Nov 1, cut below the wound you made, dip in your choice of rooting hormone preparation, and stick in appropriate potting medium. Many plants will develop roots from that meristematic callus tissue over winter, and the cutting will take off in spring. It's worth a try..."

I have been wanting to try this with fig cuttings, even after they've been cut.

sometimes, it's not you. it's the cuttings. as much as everyone try to provide the best cuttings that they have, we can't control what the tree decide to give. some cuttings will just not respond as well as others. last two yrs, i received 1 Black Madeira cutting each yr from USDA/UCD. each time, i cut them into smaller pieces and rooted them. first yr, i had 3 cuttings out of one that was sent to me. 2 out of 3 rooted rather fast. but last one didn't show any root. i put it in the 1 gal anyway after going through the motion.. baggie, cup.. and all that. it actually became the best Black Madeira i rooted. this yr, i divided the USDA/UCD cutting into 2 cuttings. one rooted very fast, but other one just didn't do anything and dried up. no idea way. there were no specific issues like gnat or anything. it just crocked.

then there was NdC. i had one or two cutting. i gave all the attention any cutting could ask for. it rooted fine, and it put on leaves like no tomorrow.. then one day, one of the leaves dropped.. then the cutting started drying up. tried everything, but it died too. i think NdC was the only thing i really wanted to root that didn't work for me so far.

have two Maltese Beauty right now in the baggie. they are hard green cuttings. i have had bad luck with green cuttings, but these look very promising. thick strong cuttings. i'll be keeping them longer in the baggie and longer under the humidity bin. but went nature want to take the cuttings, not much i can do about it :)  

I have the NdC and Maltese Beauty in moss now.......but they came later so not worried about them yet.