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Cuttings not rooting in water

terri_stellaterri_stella Posts: 49
in Problem solving
I took some cuttings of salvias, dahlia, euonymus and aster around 4 weeks ago and only the dahlia is showing any sign of rooting (they're all in water as I've had no luck in vermiculite), what am I doing wrong? I dipped them in rooting hormone and change the water every 5-7 days. Even the dahlia only has very small white knobs which I'm not even sure are the beginnings of roots! Should I wait or pot them up anyway? Thanks!
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  • terri_stellaterri_stella Posts: 49
    Oh really! Thanks, didn't see there was a specific thread.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    There's sometimes no apparent reason why a cutting fails, but as long as they're green and healthy-looking, it's worth hanging on to them to see if they do anything. Eventually they'll either root or die. I've had some salvia bits in a jar of water for a month or so and they've not rooted yet either.

    The general advice is that dahlia cuttings should be from new basal shoots in spring, and I think asters would be better propagated by division in spring (or "lazy division", dig out a section of the crown and replant, then fill the gap with a bit of soil or compost), so if your cuttings of those fail it would be worth having another go at propagating them in spring.



    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    philippasmith2 said:
    4 weeks isn't very long - particularly at this time of year.

    Have a look at the "Cuttings that root in water" thread and see if you can get some ideas of timing, when to do, etc.
    I can't find that thread: "Cuttings that root in water". Any chance you can post a link?
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    There you are, I have it bookmarked.

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1004868/plants-that-root-in-water
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hello @mandyroberts99,

    I think this is the one ....
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1004868/plants-that-root-in-water/p1

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    Snap 🐝 
  • mandyroberts99mandyroberts99 Posts: 235
    philippasmith2 said:
    @mandyroberts99..........apologies for the misleading title - you've found it now I think :)
    No problem - its a really useful thread!
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    For salvias, I would put the cuttings into a small pot of light earth. It should be fine. Take eight cuttings and you are pretty sure to get a few successes - even more so in May.
  • terri_stellaterri_stella Posts: 49
    Another two weeks and still no roots 😢 thanks for all your advice so far - the hydrangea leaves are going yellow so may be too late for them but the others do I wait or try them (the same cuttings that are currently in water)in compost?
  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949
    Sorry to jump in but @pitter-patter could you please explain what book marking is ( I am guessing you can save something you may later want to look at?) and how to do it? thank you
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