Viewing post #1101998 by drdawg

You are viewing a single post made by drdawg in the thread called My 3rd attempt.
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Mar 31, 2016 4:46 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I try to never take a cutting after September 15. That's simply based on my experiences. I have difficulty rooting cutting after that date, even the Celadine. I won't begin taking cuttings for at least another two weeks, and for many plants that leaf out more slowly, it could be 4-6. And even then, that won't be a lot of cuttings, only a handful at most. Keep in mind the vast majority of my plumeria have been dry and dormant since November. They just went outside two weeks ago. It takes time for their roots to regrow and for them to leaf-out. Only when those roots are well-established will the plants completely re-hydrate. My experience is that a 1.5" diameter plant could be closer to 1" when it comes out of dormancy. Thus, I am looking for the plant to gain back its diameter, which will come with the re-hydration process. That and healthy leaves are two criteria I use to determine whether the plant is established enough for cutting.

I also generally will only take a cutting when the tip/branches diameter is at least 1" and will produce a cutting 12-18" long. That's just me. I know smaller tips can be rooted but I want mine to have the best chance to do so.

Thus the short answer to your question is "no", cuttings at this time of year are not done. This would be different if I was in central or southern Florida or perhaps the southwest and southern California. My active growing cycle probably begins at least a month later than these regions. I just have to let the plants tell me when they can be cut.

By the way, one of the plumeria that overwintered in the solarium went outside two weeks ago, along with those I kept dormant. One of its two-tipped branches broke off when I was either covering or uncovering the "bundle" of plants. I am curing that cut end now and will root it in the next few days. It will/should root fine. It never de-hydrated like those in dormancy, so its branches stayed nice and plump.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.

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