kenisaac said:
My suggestions:
1) Never give up! As I said, rooting cuttings is actual a very cool! Try easier hardwoods next such as figs, grapes or roses. Or softwoods next spring?
You said you attempted to form root callus... I would be interested in if you were successful in getting a callus on your apple?
I use dusting / spray formulations of Sulphur, along with RELIANT systemic fungicide as a spray and dip for some of my cuttings and bulb propagation and storage. For sanitization, for years I've used a mild bleach solution or rubbing alcohol for sanitization of tools and pots. I've used both vermiculite and perlite, but have recently switched to coconut coir as my medium. (Never dirt or compost, both are just too dirty for cuttings, divisions or seedlings.) One time I tried the "sterilize your dirt in your oven" from some gardening blog... The procedure was quickly banned in my household.)
In all cases, I'm trying to use 'least toxic' measures for myself and my family, as we want indoor air clean of both chemicals AMD fungi spores.
Thank you for the information, I appreciate it!
I do make a point of searching for proper academic resources, either from universities or the Extension resources, and as old-as-time of a trade as plant growing is, it can quite hard to find information on some processes and species. Because of this I've been trying to document everything that I can, but also have been forced to use whatever I could find. I've been using this website for guidance on the applewood cuttings:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.c...
I would say that they callused, but I would describe it as a weak callus. It does not look as thick or pronounced as some calluses I've seen on other cuttings online, and why that could be I just don't know enough to comment on. I did use liquid rooting hormone on them though, for what it's worth.
I've been using the dirt-in-the-oven method to sterilize, and so far it has worked for me. I can't say it's very convenient, but it is a good way to mindlessly spend a day if there's nothing else to do.
I've read that it can take up to 6 months for these cuttings to root; I will give it that long and update the post. I honestly expect it to fail (which is why I made sure to gather seeds too), but it will be fun to try.
I'm very interested in grafting. Unfortunately, because I am growing everything from seed, I'm just going to have to wait some years before I can start experimenting with that stuff. But it would definately make working with fruit trees a lot easier.
Have you ever used misquito bits as a pest detirent? I've heard it works wonders, especially for fungus gnats. Compared to the measures you take to sterilze everything, I am really underperforming in that area. You've given me some things to think about in that regard and I appreciate it.
