• Members of the previous forum can retrieve their temporary password here, (login and check your PM).

HELP!!! Chacruna down!!!

Migrated topic.
Wax

Wax

LUVR
My chacruna cutting was planted the other day and is now looking really bad!
there were no roots only three leaves and some leaf buds.
should I take it out of the soil and into a glass of water?
 
Cuttings need to grow roots first. They will look pretty sad until they have roots, and they need special care. Try putting the cutting into a cup of wet perlite with a humidity tent over it. You can make a humidity tent with a gallon ziplock bag and some chopsticks.
 
Perlite allows for proper aeration of the roots by draining quickly and retaining minimal water, but enough to sustain a cutting/seedling as it establishes roots.

Vermiculite holds water like a champ, does not dry quickly and essentially goes to mud-like consistency when you hydrate it (minimal aeration for roots). Imo, vermiculite would make a very poor substitute in this scenario and in general.
 
For what its worth...

My psychotria Alba just started putting out roots after about 2-3 months. I've just been keeping it in a mason jar, in water (that I change daily), with a ziplock on top for a humidity tent.
 
So I ended up just putting it in some verm with a tent over it.
I think the verm will be ok since I live in a very dry area so the perlite may dry out too quickly anyway and I am not home enough to keep a close eye on it.
If she starts looking even more sad...which is gunna be hard she just lost her only three leaves and now only has small buds....then I will try something else.
Please pray for a miracle healing for her so I can do some healing of my own one day with her help :)
 
Also don't worry overmuch if the leaves all fall off. Without roots the plant has trouble taking up water and the leaves serve more as a way to lose valuable water (by evaporating in the sun) than to take in nutrients. The leaves fall off as a defense against drying out. So long as there is enough energy stored in the stem, the cutting should root :)
 
A little late on this.

But if your leaves are still falling off plant those...they will grow new plants! When I have a leaf fall I plant it in a McDonalds Hot Fudge Sundae container. You know the clear plastic one that snaps together in the middle. I find it to be a great humidity chamber for seeds and cuttings.

Fill the bottom half with your soil of choice, I simply use Miraclegrow potting soil for flowers. Use a scalple and bisect the leaf as this allows more water retention or something. Plant the leaf stem first with just a bit of the leaf sticking out. Mist daily and keep sealed to maintain humidity. I keep them in a spot away from direct sunlight. The leaf cutting will develop a root system in about 3 weeks and the slowly new stems and leaves will start to shoot up.

I started doing this in case my larger plant died, but it turns out to be a very good way to multiply the plants. They grow slow but hey, the more the merrier!
 
chacruna is a super strong plant...ive had them die all the way to the soil..but if left alone and moist for a few months..will shoot out a new plant..dont give up..keep it moist
 
Psikotrope said:
A little late on this.
When I have a leaf fall I plant it in a McDonalds Hot Fudge Sundae container. You know the clear plastic one that snaps together in the middle. I find it to be a great humidity chamber for seeds and cuttings. [\quote]

Thats was a very great tip Psikotrope, Im going to try this for myself! I also plant the dead leaves, although ive heard they wont have as high a success rate of rooting. Ive only had some dead leaves planted for 4 months, still no signs of life =(

Edit: Why wont my qoute work?
Click to expand...
 
buy some super thrive, you dip your cutting in this stuff for about a min, and then look for some root hormone, after a super thrive soak its dipped and covered with a pink powder, then plant as you would normally, these two items are great for cuttings.

Best of luck to you.
 
Unfortunately she perished a while back, lost all her leaves and I tried to root in some willow water to no avail.
 
archaic_architect said:
Unfortunately she perished a while back, lost all her leaves and I tried to root in some willow water to no avail.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that. :(
I have 1 chacruna that I started from seed, about 5 month germination period.
In all honesty I had forgot all about the bugger.
I had 4 seeds in a recycled margarine tub with MG potting mix.
They dried out several times during that time.
3 sprouted, 2 I managed to kill while transplanting. It's taking its time growing too.
Although it's been a difficult plant to start IMO, I sure love that little guy .
 
Back
Top Bottom