The answer to your first question is yes. People who added posts to this thread will receive a message on their home page to tell them that one of their watched threads has a new post.
As for the second thing, 3 days is too soon for a cutting to show signs of permanent life. It's more likely to be a case of continued growth. It's comparable to what happens when you put a bud rose in water and the bud opens into a bloom a few days later because its growth is continuing temporarily in the vase.
If you keep an eye on those cuttings, you'll eventually know whether they will grow roots and stay alive.
