[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick Gross]

Jennifer, I have never tried Penstemon but, if I were to try, I would follow 
these general guidelines:

Jennifer, I never use rooting hormones although my potting shed is full of 
the stuff. I once heard Horticulturist, George Hull, say in a meeting that, 
if a cutting won't root without rooting hormone, it probably won't root with 
it either. If I heard wrong, I beg someone to correct me, but . . . I've 
found no evidence to dispute the statement. Also, in my limited experience, 
and I have observed that cuttings that won't make roots in water probably 
won't make roots in a potting soil and I usually try water first or 
simultaneously.

Using a plastic peanutbutter jar, I leave some foliage on the cutting tip 
and change the water every day if I think about it. It seems to me that, if 
I allow the water to become stagnant (no air), rooting never takes place.

As soon as root nodes appear, I usually pot up the cutting to a one gallon 
with a 50/50 peat moss/pearlite mix. Make an appropriate hole in damp medium 
with a dibble, dangle the cutting in the hole while tapping the side of the 
pot to settle the soil around the cutting without damaging the root tips. I 
don't "pack" the soil in. Cut the bottom out of a 64 ounce plastic juice 
bottle and set it over the cutting for a greenhouse effect. Set the pot in 
good light but no direct sun that would fry the cutting. When new growth 
appears, gradually harden off the plant until it can take full sun unless it 
is a shade loving plant requiring a different strategy.

If you have Parafilm tape, wrap the part of the cutting exposed above the 
potting soil. It will keep the wood from drying out and when the buds break 
they will grow right through it.

You can also use the plastic bottle cover together with the Parafilm to keep 
soil from drying out but it is not as critical.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener volunteer
Mricopa County Cooperative Extension


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jenkirkaz at yahoo.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 3:50 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Jennifer Kirkpatrick
> 85234
> jenkirkaz at yahoo.com
>
> Hello,
> I have been  trying unsuccessfully, to find some info on how to root a 
> cutting from a piece of Penstemon I broke off accidentally today.
> I have done this many times and hate to throw out the pieces.
> Please advise if you can.
> Thanks
> Jennifer Kirkpatrick
>
>
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