Propagation Efforts

Several weeks ago Ernest and I were over at the Calallen Home Depot. While there I collected 7 African violet leaves that were laying in the tray around the plants that were for sale. When we got home I put them in a flat bowl full of soil, watered it, put it in a gallon ziplock bag and put it in the north window in the dining room. I hadn't checked on them until today and was fully expecting to find at least half of them had rotted. Surprise, surprise, they all look great!!

Wish I could say the same for the 3 poinsettia branches (from the white poinsettia Velma gave me after New Year's) I have in a cup by the kitchen sink. All 3 put out leaves, but no roots; yesterday one of them turned soggy and the leaves wilted. The other 2 look okay and finally have 'pimples' on their sterms below the waterline. If I remember to do it, tomorrow I'll plant them in some soil, tent them with baggies and see if they'll take root.

Then today, while at the Lowes in Corpus, I was perusing the ixora and noticed that 2 of their Maui plants had broken branches. When I asked one of the sales clerks if I could harvest them I noticed a third one; he said I could have them. They're long, healthy stems (all but a tiny edge had broken so they were still being fed) with multiple leaves and buds. As soon as I collected them I broke off all the buds and all but the 4 highest muture leaves (I left all the juvenile leaves). Once I got home I put them in a cup of water. Tomorrow I'll try to remember to dip them in rooting hormone, plant them in individual cups and tent them with baggies.

I've had excellent luck rooting ixora cutting. With both my ixoras dying this last year I'm praying my luck holds.