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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Vertical or Horizontal in Sphagnum moss
 
 


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strudeldog

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

When starting your cuttings in sphagnum moss have you noticed any difference if they are kept vertical or horizontal?  Last year I had them horizontal and the roots were coming out all over from the very top on some, like in some recent posts where there are roots above soil line when potting up.  If kept vertical while in the sphagnum moss with maybe even the top couple inches exposed I am thinking the cuttings might orient it more readily when moved to potting mix. Experience and opinions appreciated.
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Phil N.GA. Zone 7 Looking for: De La Reina, Del La Senyora, Martinenca Rimada, Parfum De Cafards, Ponte Tresa,  Sangue Dulce, Emalyn's Purple, and on and on
ForeverFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
   I have rooted many different varities of cuttings that were completly covered by damp spagnum moss in a 1gal. zip lock bag, and have never had that happen. The roots usually grow at the bottom or up a few nodes or so, but I never have seen them coming from the top.  Having said that, I believe that from the info on other threads here on this Forum, that any roots above soil level will just die off. 
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Vince
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newnandawg

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Vince, I have rooted many horizontal myself and have had just a couple that rooted the whole length of the cutting. Most are at the bottom end. All my vertical rootings were at the bottom.
ascpete

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
strudeldog,

I had similar condition with my first sets of cuttings.They were rooted horizontal and roots were growing from every node, but never from the top cut. I tried them vertical (plastic shoe box stood on end), with the entire cutting covered in moss and longer roots were formed on the lower half and were less tangled.

I am currently rooting horizontal with moss in Zip lock bags. I place in cups (with a 80/20, Perlite/MG seed starting mix) when the cuttings are callused and before roots are more than 1/4 inches long. With this procedure my current success rate with cuttings surviving to 1 gallon pots is around 97% (59 to 1). The roots usually fill my 16 oz cups within 3-4 weeks.
strudeldog

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Thanks Folks,

That's just what I was asking. I will put the plastic shoe box on end this time and some may be in Gal Zip locks but I will try to keep everything vertical. And I probably misspoke stating the very top. I don't believe I had roots from the top cut, just probably the top node. I believe I messed up trying to cut them into cuttings last year based on the input in a recent thread. This year I will just let those roots fade as has been suggested. Hoping the vertical helps and don't see how it would hurt. 
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Phil N.GA. Zone 7 Looking for: De La Reina, Del La Senyora, Martinenca Rimada, Parfum De Cafards, Ponte Tresa,  Sangue Dulce, Emalyn's Purple, and on and on
victor

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
That just happen to me,I was rooting a Maltese falcon cutting when I ck it this morning I found It had leaf's and a lot roots from the top node,so I put the cutting in a 20'' training pot,right up to the top of the cutting only the leaf's remained out.This never happen to me,so I will see if the cutting makes it.I hope so it is a Expensive cutting.
strudeldog

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Just a quick followup. I kept the cuttings vertical and noticed a big difference. Hardly any roots developing high on the cuttings. I had them in Gal Ziplocks in sphagnum with the bag open in a closed bin so I did not have to open each individually for fresh air. When I kept the cuttings horizontal  I had rooting all along the cutting. Not a controlled environment as I did score and use Dip-N-Grow this time as well, but it sure seems to me keeping the cuttings vertical concentrated my root development at the bottom of the cutting 
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Phil N.GA. Zone 7 Looking for: De La Reina, Del La Senyora, Martinenca Rimada, Parfum De Cafards, Ponte Tresa,  Sangue Dulce, Emalyn's Purple, and on and on
FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Lately I've kept the top 1/4 of the cutting uncovered.  They still try to root, but most are at the bottom.  The advantage is that's easier to find the cutting while digging for the end.

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Frank
zone 7a - VA

JackHNVA

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
If kept in a complete dark location for the 2 - 4 weeks of rooting, I have had masses of roots  along the entire twig length either vertical in double cups or horizontal in tupperware. Much of the just the end vs along the stem seems to be a function of the specific type and the diameter and bud spacing.  I have acquired three very large tupperware type rectangular containers that about 5 inches deep and they work well for layering by cuttings in the moss so I plan sticking with this since it works and the boxes are handy to place on a top shelf in a warm location near the heater vent and forget about. Treating the cuttings with the anti fungal solution and sterlizing the rooting moss seems to hold off any mold and fungus issues from the past era of use of wet paper towels in zip locks.
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JoAnn749

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
I have a lot of cuttings I am rooting in sp moss horizontal in totes.  Most have rooted from the bottom only, a few sprouted a couple of roots along the cutting and one has roots all over - I think even the top cut!  I haven't looked at it in a couple days - I'll take pictures tonight - gotta got to work now :(
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