How To Root Brugmansia in Sphagnum Moss

After killing so many cuttings trying to root them in potting soil, I decided there must be a better way. Sure enough, there was.



You will need:
1 red plastic disposable cup
1 bag of sphagnum moss
1 ice pick
1 small bucket
2 cups hot water
1 oz. hydrogen peroxide
1 32 oz. spray bottle
1 garden marker
1 heating mat
1 flower pot
1 bag of Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Soil

The process is simple:

1. Take the red cup and poke 4 - 5 holes in the bottom of the cup with the ice pick. I recommend making even larger holes by using a good-sized knitting needle, pushing it through the holes you just made. The reason for this is to make sure no excess moisture stays in the cup, which would cause the cutting to rot.

2. Take as much sphagnum moss as you need for the amount of cuttings that you have, and soak it for 10 minutes in the hot water in the bucket. This softens the moss, hydrates it, and kills any unwelcome creatures.

3. Remove the moss from the water after it has cooled. Squeeze as much water as you can from the moss.

4. Stuff the cup with the sphagnum moss, making a small hole in the middle with your finger.

5. Add the hydrogen peroxide to the water in the spray bottle.

6. Lightly spray the bottom of the cutting with the H2O2. This helps to kill any bacteria on the stem.

7. Place your cutting in the hole. Now firm the moss around the cutting.

8. Place the cuttings on top of the heating mat in a sunny room or under a grow light.

9. Check the cuttings every 3-4 days to watch the progress of the roots. If the moss is dry, spray the top with the water mixture. Moisture is the key to rooting just about everything.

10. In 4-10 days you should have enough roots to gently pot them. Remove as much of the moss as you can and pot them in Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Soil. I love this stuff. It holds water and releases it as the plant needs it.

Enjoy your new plant!