Do you seal or cut paste the top of a cutting?

[Hump]

So I'm trying my hand at rooting some crabapple cuttings I came across on ebay. Who knows if they made the voyage OK, or even if they really are crabapple, but I figured why not play since it was like 10 bucks. I have around 15, and I used 2 parts perlite and 1 part peat (or coir as a replacement in some).

I used rooting gel, and wrapped the pots in plastic to hold moisture. My question is, do I or should I place cut paste on top of the cuttings where they were chopped? I thought of this as I was misting them, and figured maybe this is something I should do.

Thanks..

 

[roberthu]

I sealed mine to reduce moisture loss. Feels it’s worth the extra few seconds.
My. It rings are half inch thick by the way. The cut surfaces are relatively big.

 

[Hump]

I sealed mine to reduce moisture loss. Feels it’s worth the extra few seconds.
My. It rings are half inch thick by the way. The cut surfaces are relatively big.

Thanks for the quick reply. Rushing to do it now lol.

 

[leatherback]

I usually do not bother. How thick are the cuttings?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Do not seal the pots to keep moisture in, it's the perfect storm for bacterial and fungal outbreaks. Let it breathe!

 

[leatherback]

Do not seal the pots to keep moisture in, it's the perfect storm for bacterial and fungal outbreaks. Let it breathe!

Wish I knew. I root all my cuttings succesfull in enclosed environments..

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Wish I knew. I root all my cuttings succesfull in enclosed environments..

How big is that environment?
I use humidity domes, those are fairly big. A sealed pot however is not.

 

[leatherback]

How big is that environment?
I use humidity domes, those are fairly big. A sealed pot however is not.

 

[Hump]

I usually do not bother. How thick are the cuttings?

Most are 1/16 to 1/4 inch however I have 3 that are around 1/2 and 3/4 inch

 

[Hump]

Do not seal the pots to keep moisture in, it's the perfect storm for bacterial and fungal outbreaks. Let it breathe!

Really? I see your point, but isn't this a standard? I have never really done cuttings before so I'm all ears. What's everyone think?

 

[Forsoothe!]

I always thought you were supposed to have growing tips from the ends of branches as starters which new growth would continue, and that blunted tips would drop dead or grow very, very slowly.

Tips of branches have primary buds and are ready to go, verses secondary buds which have to transition into primaries, or something like that.

 

[leatherback]

that are around 1/2 and 3/4 inch

Those I would probably top-seal

 

[leatherback]

I always thought you were supposed to have growing tips from the ends of branches as starters which new growth would continue,

Nope, not needed. Once rooted, the tree will break bud at some point and these will start growing.

 

[Hump]

I always thought you were supposed to have growing tips from the ends of branches as starters which new growth would continue, and that blunted tips would drop dead or grow very, very slowly.

Tips of branches have primary buds and are ready to go, verses secondary buds which have to transition into primaries, or something like that.

Unfortunately I didn't have an option with these, I didn't cut them myself. However I thought you were supposed to leave a leaf or a cpl at the top and chop right above it so the energy would concentrate on growing roots and not growing taller. Meanwhile it would still supply energy up the cutting to that leaf keeping the "stick" alive. Again, just what I assumed, but I'm a noob.

These were sent to me bare though with no leaves, with the exception 1 has two tiny tiny little leaves.

 

[leatherback]

Nope, not needed. Once rooted, the tree will break bud at some point and these will start growing.

Ohw shoop. It was @Forsoothe! posting. I forgot he thinks I am a horrible person and has me on ignore. Can someone repost my answer?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Really? I see your point, but isn't this a standard? I have never really done cuttings before so I'm all ears. What's everyone think?

It's standard to reduce foliar evaporation, and keep a high humidity.
I'm thinking that even @leatherback opens his bags regularly to let fresh air in.

I grow fungi as a hobby, and even those bags and containers have a (filtered) air passage.

Some, if not most, plants root better if there is a dynamic change in soil water content.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I always thought you were supposed to have growing tips from the ends of branches as starters which new growth would continue, and that blunted tips would drop dead or grow very, very slowly.

Nope, not needed. Once rooted, the tree will break bud at some point and these will start growing.

Sincerely,
Leatherback

On behalf of myself I want to second this. For some species it seems to work. Mostly broadleaf/deciduous and cacti.

 

[leatherback]

I'm thinking that even @leatherback opens his bags regularly to let fresh air in.

Ohw I do open the bags every once in a while!

 

[Hump]

Okay, well when I did this on Wednesday night i spent all the extra time to wrap each one lol. I wish I wouldn't have now, but that's okay. So I'll just open them up every once in a while, or should I remove them completely?

 

[Hump]

Sorry one more question on this. Do I need to mist the cuttings themselves (not the soil) if they don't have any leaves?