how to grow from cuttings?

topic posted Thu, October 25, 2007 - 11:35 PM by  special
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i was gifted a cutting of salvia... what do i do with it?
right now it's just sitting in a glass of water.
thanks for any help.
i suppose i could just google it
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special
California
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  • Re: how to grow from cuttings?

    Fri, October 26, 2007 - 1:19 PM
    my guess is to wait and see if it starts to sprout roots while sitting in the water (which should probably be changed daily). you may want to leave the glass and stem near a sunny window. maybe a bit of growth hormore would help things along. once the roots are pretty good looking (there should be more than one, maybe a few should have "branches" or off shoots) then stick it in a pot in the same area that it was sitting in the water. keeping it in the same place should minimize the shock of changing from the water enviroment to the soil enviroment. once it is a little more established in the soil you should be able to move it to it's more permanent home. good luck and let us know how it worked out!
  • Re: how to grow from cuttings?

    Wed, November 21, 2007 - 4:27 AM
    Mostly good advice from Andrew, except waiting. If you wait too long the cells that can generate new roots can atrophy or become infected with bacteria.

    I strongly recommend getting some rooting powder from a local garden/hardware store, then do a corrective cutting on the stem to give it a nice clean fresh surface at the correct 45 degree angle, apply the rooting powder, then put it in an appropriate damped growth medium like peat or vermiculite until it generates some roots. You also use shredded newspaper or wadded up paper towel as a growth medium.
    • Re: how to grow from cuttings?

      Mon, December 24, 2007 - 9:07 PM
      Both great advice. When you change the water though, be sure it's warm water. It makes it easier for the stem to draw it in.
      Be sure it's wel rooted in the pot befor you plantt it in the outside ground though (if it's what you plan to fo) and be sure it has plenty of fertilizer. Warming kind for the winter only.

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