cuttings in water

A helpful tip I just read and thought it may be a nice thing to share. To encourage cuttings to root in water add a pinch of sugar to the water. petals

 

That is a great tip! I root basil this time of year so I'll have winter basil on the kitchen windowsill. I've had problems in the past with the basil, so I'll add a bit of sugar to the water.
Thanks, Kildale!

 

Great tip Kildale, I am always looking to have my flowers last longer.
Many thanks!
K

 

What are you trying to grow by cuttings?

 

I really would think adding sugar would encourage bacteria to grow in the water. I do add soda pop to the water when making a vase of cut flowers. it tends to suppress bacteria and feeds the flowers for a bit longer than plain water does.

 

Carolyn, when I'm taking a bouquet to someone, I add 7-Up, just a little.
Of course, I don't do cuttings on the scale that you do--just a windowsill with a half-dozen rooting cuttings--but I do change the water every other day. Do you think I might be encouraging bacterial growth on the stems and emerging roots by using a trifle of sugar in the water, even with regular water changing?

 

Jane I use rooting hormone powder and a mist bed or plastic domes in my greenhouse. I would think that changing the water almost daily would be different than letting the water sit for the week and waiting on roots to form.... do an experiment and see if it really works is all I can say.

 

I have never put anything in the water of cut flowers or cut pieces I hope to form roots and to be "a new plant" except maybe a few drops of bleach for cut flowers. Tap water usually smells so strongly of chlorine that I can't even remember the last time I did that.

Agree that changing the water as often as needed so that it stays perfectly clear, clean, and odor-free would help either situation.

For cut flowers, re-cutting the cut end of the stems after 2-3 days can also help extend the life, if there's life left to extend.

For cuttings taken with the intention of growing new plants, as long as nothing organic falls into the water (like a dead leaf,) it should remain clear indefinitely as long as roots are actively growing in it.

 

go get any Willow branch and chop it up, soak it in water in a container for a week. Then use that water to root plants. I save the chopped up stems and keep adding water to that container. It saves forever that way.

 

thank you for the very interesting tips. At my garden club we had a professional Dahlia grower and she told me about the sugar in the water. It did seem like a good idea and I will give it a try. The willow tip sounds very good.

 

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@purpleinopp Your post is blank..I am very interested in what you have to say. XOXO

 

You wrote: Was this advice given in regard to cuttings taken with the hope of growing new plants, or extending the life of a bouquet of cut flowers?
I use this tip for both cuttings and cut flowers.

 

I found that a question I had typed was already covered in the original post, so I deleted it.

 

When rooting cuttings I never change the water,,I just add to it. With the growth of a little green algae my plants root better. Especially works well for tomato cuttings,,roses seem to like it as well. I do use willow when I have it available. I just cut a twig or two about 6 to 8 inches long,,peel the lower bark back a bit and stick it in with the rooting plants.