AusBonsai

Hi guys, I was recently surfing on the web and saw something about Serissa cuttings striking by simply having them immersed in water. Problem is, I can't remember where I saw it. I have never heard of simply immersing cuttings in water. Nevertheless, and here's the stupid question.......How do you get a cutting to stand upright in water??? Is there some special container that should be used for this process?? Any suggestions??


Thanks


John

i dont know the theory behind them striking in water, but have an idea for ya on how to get them to stand up

say you get yourself a shallow tray. maybe like one of those aluminium throw away roasting trays. or something like that any way. and place fine chicken wire over the top of it. secure it to the tray. and have the cuttings put through the wire so they hold upright. you would have access to be able to see how the water levels are. and oce the cuttings have struck you can always just cut the chicken wire to get them out

just an idea any ways


jamie

hmmmm.......i haven't really heard to much of it but Jerry Meislik http://www.bonsaihunk.us has a little about getting figs to strike in water?

Hey Thanks Mason, thanks Jamie

Put water in the glass, caver up top of glass with aluminium foil, then Punch aluminium foil(same size diameter your catting) and put catting in glass.

there was a thing in a bonsai today on the subject. They used foam, suspending the cutting in the foam cut out, allowing only a few mm to be sitting in the water.

The elaboration to stand the cuttings up seems unnecessary to me. Just stand the cuttings in a drinking glass or bottle. Root formation maybe seen throught the glass. If you wish to keep the light out to accelerate root growth, wrap the bottle. This can be removed to inspect progress.

Dropping into the conversation a bit late but I do not root cuttings in water. The times that I have tried it the results were mediocre. Rooting incomplete, rotted cuttings, soft roots that break off easily etc. There are some articles published on using floating styrofoam pads with holes in which cuttings are placed, the lower end sticking into a water basin. The water can be aerated for better rooting.
I root in normal granular soil mix. Set cuttings 1-2" deep. Keep only 3=4 leaves for larger leaf materials. More for small leaves. Moisten the mix and keep moist but never sopping or sitting in a pool of water. Cover with plastic, place in good light but not direct sun.
Rooting on healthy stems takes 1-3 months.
I know others have great results in water rooting.

Dependant on species, some do well in water and others don't. Willow (salix) is the easiest one and cuttings up to 1" thick root easily. Sometimes heavier than that (what a great start). I also find that other cuttings placed in the water which has been used for Willow root much stronger and quicker than in just plain water. I believe that disolved aspirin is also a help. It prevents the ends of the cuttings from callousing over before they root. Reactions please.

I wanted to try a contorted willow (can't think of its real name) as bonsai so took about ten cuttings from one inch to four inch diameter, placed all in buckets of water and they all took. I gave a few away and kept what I thought were the best ones. The cutting in water work for some species, but not for all.
I also understand that willow bark was used as an alternative to asprin so there is probably something in what Stymie said.

Watto and Stymie, good points about some species being easy to root.
Warmest regards,
Jerry
PS aspirin was originally derived from willow bark. A property discovered by aboriginal peoples and utilized.

I have done it for some things, there is often something standing in jars next to the window sink (works with basil for indoor fresh herbs quite well) Mum used to strike a lot of cuttings this way. However I find planting things into soil from this 'hydroponic start' can be tricky, the roots simply havent grown to suit soil, and it is not something I would usually try with a rare and beloved plant. I did an unintentional one this year when I put rose cuttings into a concrete trough, so that I wouldnt step on them and could throw them away later. After consistent rain, I have a branch a foot long which is growing roots...

I wouldnt add aspirin, maybe some rooting hormones would be worth a try, Sometimes I do several different cuttings in a jar, and I have wondered whether the hormones produced by the 'easy' species which are rooting could assist the harder cuttings. After all it should be a perfect combination of hormones, not just a kick of auxin.

John - the attached photo shows a contorted willow "cutting" just over 12 months old. Probably shouldn't be telling everyone as they will all be doing it now! But it certainly was successful, like I said before, 100% success rate using the water method. Cutting taken in autumn and potted in early spring.
P.S. - Honest, the bottle is only for size comparison.

I have done honeysuckle hedge cuttings in water, they shot roots very fast and had no side effects when planted in soil. Anyone had success with any other species (except of course willow)?

Come to think of it, there are some willow trees growing in the little murray river in Swan Hill where I live. They are growing half way up the bank and when the water level rises roots sprout out of the trunk and wrap around, the water then drops and the tangled mess is exposed...looks pretty cool.

I have a bottle of plant starter and I remeber it said something about standing a cutting in the solution for about 24hrs before planting.