My experiment

[ruggr10]

So, it's about 11 degrees F outside right now and I'm going stir crazy... So...

I took 6 cuttings from my 3 bilberry bushes and soaked them for a few hours in warm water. Bilberry plants are so hard to find and my seeds aren't sprouting so I want to sprout the cuttings.

I couldn't find rooting hormone and went against using honey, instead I made balls of worm castings from my worms and stuck the cuttings into them. I then put the balls into some pro-mix. They're now under my grow lights.

We'll see what happens!

If someone know where I can order bilberry plants let me know! Hartmann's used to have them but they weren't on there website this year.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Sounds like a fun project. I have 10 Filbert cuttings I'm trying to root.

Are you using any bottom heat? Do you have plastic or jars over them to keep the humidity up?

Looks like One Green World was / is selling Bilberry. You may have a better chance finding them by searching Vaccinium myrtillus and not the common name.

Eric

[vebyrd36]

Air layering maybe??

[ruggr10]

Do you think bottom heat would help?

There in my furnace room under shop lights.... If putting heat underneath will help I'll do it.

One green world used to have them but I don't think so any more.

[rainbowgardener]

The humidity dome is really important for starting cuttings. Since they don't have roots yet, to suck up water, if they are losing water through the leaves, they die.

I use 2 liter soda bottle cut in half. Fill the bottom half with moist potting soil and stick your cutting in. Then cover it with the top half with the lid on, tape the halves together and keep out of direct sun. Once it starts putting out new leaves you can open it up.

[ruggr10]

These were dormant cuttings since it's winter up here, so no leaves... I don't know if I need the bottles but that is a great idea for ones with leaves!!

[DoubleDogFarm]

This [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFL-jEkWSV8]video[/url] may help.

Eric

[rainbowgardener]

Will a dormant cutting work? Usually cuttings are taken in the spring when the plant is actively growing.

[vebyrd36]

As to roses I think dormant cuttings are okay. Just Select your cuttings from the tips of rose canes that have recently bloomed. Trim off tips will have either withered flowers or the beginnings of rose hips on them.

Or at least this is how I have done it. I hope this helps.

[bangstrom]

In place of rooting hormone, you can water cuttings with willow water. Google "willow water" for details.

[!potatoes!]

a bit of bottom heat should help - especially in a coolish environment that won't encourage leafing out.

[floridahillnursery]

Clonex is a great cloning compound. The roots actually break out of the stem. They should have at least one mature leaf per cutting.

[ruggr10]

My experiment may be working!!!

One out of the 6 bilberry cuttings I started a couple of weeks ago has 2 leaves that just budded out today!

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!