Tarev, don't give up...when we had the cold snap, 3 of my cuttings became "wasp -waisted " and soft. They were my brand new "Oahu Star ", " Jean Moragne Jr.", and a 2-pronged, 3-tip Aztec Gold. I cut them all back to healthy tissue, dusted the cut ends with fungicide /rooting hormone, and let them callus, again. They are being re-rooted, now. The Oahu Star is now barely 6 inches long, but the tips claws are elongating, so I've hope for it. The 2-pronged Aztec Gold is now 2 separate cuttings, and I think they'll both live. The J.M.Jr doesn't look like it made it, but it can, and probably will be replaced, next year....after I'm 100% sure the weather will stay warm enough for rooting her. I think she succumbed because she originated in a warmer climate, maybe being rooted in temperate weather stressed her too much.
What did I learn from this experience? For starters, to accept the fact that there will be some losses. To not invest too much TLC into any single plant, these thrive on neglect, not on being fussed over. Plant seeds to divert your attention and worries about those cuttings, they'll take on average 30-50 days, or more to root. Watching the seedlings thrive and respond is very reassuring, in a way that watching cuttings root, is not,
because rooting cuttings is such a slow process ....and a lesson in infinite patience and determination.
:nodding:
P.S. My comment on neglecting /ignoring cuttings doesn't cover signs of rot, or black tip, those have to be taken care of....and the sooner, the better, because they spread.
