OK - I'm rooting some pretty great cuttings kindly provided by a fellow member. They're great...Rooting really nicely. One of the cuttings was a long-ish, 2-node stick....Before the bottom node roots I began to see roots come out of the top node from above ground...

Instead of falling off it decides to harden off and touch earth...

 

Fine....Next thing I know the lower node starts to root...and man is it a strong one.....Nice big thick roots...growing fast

 


But instead of dropping the roots from the above-ground node, this thing digs in

 

 

So now I have roots on this thing both above and below grade and they're both growing well....But no leaves....

OK, opinions....Is this going to inhibit shoot growth from the upper node? Should I take the upper roots out in hopes they'll be replaced with shoots? Or do I wait for a root sucker in hopes this doesn't bleed the cuttings resources dry?

Tomatoes were way less complicated than this....

Hi Joe, I don't use this method. I would leave any roots alone.
The only thing that I might do is add a little rooting medium, in order to prevent those top roots from drying.
In any case it looks like you have some robust root growth beneath the surface.

I rarely have a problem with too many roots.  Eventually it starts to grow leaves, but if the roots are going crazy, it can be a sign hormone was used.  Either way, it is putting a lot of effort into roots and none into leaves.  I dislike humidity bins but that can encourage leaf growth.  I would cover those roots if it were me, but they seem to be doing fine.

IMO, there's no such thing as too many roots.  Sometimes there's too little space.

Did you do anything special to stimulate this rooting or was is just the variety and/or the cutting?

No hormone on this batch... I attribute the toughness to the Durable source...... Hard as nails!

...   Among the most aggressive I've seen....

Time to fertilize!

I fertilize with a very diluted liquid from the start. Like 1/4 strength.

Be patient. It will happen this happens a lot with MP varieties especially.

Getting roots before leaves has never been a problem.
Give it a few days and it will pop a leaf bud.


Doug

Don't over water since no leaves and therefore it is using very little water. 
Cover the exposed root but leave some bark with bright light or sun shining on it to stimulate a bud growth.
salute!

It's settled then. I'll tuck some mix around the roots and put it in the window... but it'll mean covering the node...So I guess I'll be hoping a shoot will come up from under the mix...