In fact, I think I did once, and the water got stinky...could have neglected to remove a leaf or two from the bottom of the cutting, though. Do you change the water a time or two, or does it stay clear?

That makes total sense. Thanks for that good tip.

Sounds so obvious when read. Don't know I never thought of that myself!!

Howdy, Folks...

"Help them along by adding soil to your water as you witness root growth coming on."

I thought I could offer more explanation if this tip ever came to the forefront; it was hard to explain it in a few sentences.

"Adding soil" won't mean just a sprinkling of soil to the water but rather turning the water into a thick slurry, more soil than water. Once the roots declare you can use an "extra moist" medium. This lets the water-loving roots keep on keeping on (how's that for an expression from the '70's!? ) and encourages the newer roots to grow adapted to soil. It's the best of both worlds.

Sometimes I start plants in water only then move them to super-damp/moist soil. Other plants I start directly in moist soil and skip the water treatment.

Lastly, don't forget what fun it is to have a glass or jar full of water on your kitchen counter with who-knows-what sprigs in it, rooting happily away. I think all of us enjoy that. Lots of houseplants will easily move from the water glass to a pot of soil, especially in a controlled environment like your house, sun room, atrium, etc.

Shoe

I had never thought of that tip, thanks ! I also love having cuttings by the kitchen window. I have Coleus there now .

Hmmm! Now I'm going to try rooting cuttings again, after many years of having given up on that. Thanks!

>> Once the roots declare

Like, really short and very few, but definitely there?
Or wait until they're 1/2" long, or there are lots of them?

I bet it depends on what you're rooting.

this sounds a little like "puddling", which i read in an old gardening book, for planting some bare-roots shrubs (if I recall correctly). They suggested sloshing the adult but bare roots in mud until they were well-coated, then planting the whole thing.

Thanks Horseshoe for a great tip! Next rooting I do will definitely be that way. Really makes good sense when you stop and think about it. Love all these tips!

I really like this tip! Thank you Shoe!

I have to LOL about the picture! I read the tip and right away thought, "now that makes a whole lot of sense! What a great tip!" Then, I looked at the picture and thought "Oh I have a little glass just like that!" Then realized that was my glass, then thought, "Oh my gosh! I totally read that tip wrong when taking the picture!"
I was so confused until I remembered I sent this picture in with a different tip.

Heheheh... grinnin' here, Shelly

"Oh my gosh! I totally read that tip wrong when taking the picture!" "

I have no doubt your pic should've been paired with the tip,

"An empty mug of root beer is equal to the isosceles triangle roots of a philodendron basking and bathing in clear cool water." Didn't the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz say the same thing, only your pic paints a much better picture?

Shoe (proud to share a tip with a Shelly pic!)

Great tip, Shoe! I will try it soon. I am a bog rooter!

Linda, I also have coleus rooting and it's doing so well I don't know if I even want to plant it. I lvoe the delicate roots.

Ditto, Beckyboo....

Ya ever notice how a glass of rootings offer their own picture, like a piece of art. It's like an under-water pic of life swirling in a glass, and the roots seem to be looking out at ya as you look at them. Kinda pleasant to look at while doing the dishes and such, eh?

shoe

I understand what you're saying, Shoe, but I don't get the part about "doing the dishes".

Great tip! Thanks. Some things just slap ya in the face!

Well you woulda thunk - DUH!

GREAT idea Shoe and GREAT photo Shelly!!

In all my years of gardening and rooting, I've never done this. Terrific tip. Makes me think, duh, why didn't I think of that?

"Declare": to show up....be there...come outta the ground... peep.... germinate.... exhibit an intent... make a statement...

"I understand what you're saying, Shoe, but I don't get the part about "doing the dishes".

Aguane/Susie...heheh, guess someone will have to give a tip on doing the dishes part at some point. No doubt there are others in the same boat!

Happy Gardening, Folks!
Shoe

Shoe: Thanks for this great tip! I've always had trouble trying to acclimate plants with those thin watery roots into a soil environment ... I will definitely remember this tip! I love rooting plants in water but I sometimes never get them transplanted to soil, I have Pothos ("Devil's Ivy") and Dracaena ("Lucky Bamboo") that have been happily growing in water for more than six years.

Good going, Lin.

Those are the plants that make ya wanna get nice pretty see-through bowls just to keep growing them like that. Blue glass ones, round or square ones, out-of-the-ordinary glass containers, depression glass...you name it.

Heck, if enough of us go that route we could start a coalition! End up with a separate forum! (Don't worry, Dave, jus' kidding!) "Show us your roots!"

Shoe

I've always got vases, mason jars, wine bottles, old perfume bottles etc. with something rooting. My thought is "If it holds water, it'll hold a couple of sprigs." A few years ago on DG we had a "Rooting Jar Exchange" which was a lot of fun! I received a neat old soda bottle that I rooted a plant in but the roots ended up filling the bottle and I had to break the bottle to get the plant out. Here's a few of my rooting jars/vases/bottles: