Hi there!
I would like to make cuttings of kiwi and, in general, of plants propagable by cuttings.
I’m gonna do this:
Cut scions of about 22cm then sterilize them by soaking in a 10% bleach solution for few seconds, let them dry and cut them to about 20cm under a node.
I will use 100% agriperlite or a mix with 30% of peat and 60% of agriperlite.
I will clean/sterilize the pots with bleach and sterilize substrate in oven at 120°C for few minutes.
I bought a 3300 ppm iba rooting hormone and will dip the base of scions in it.
Cuttings will have 4 nodes, 2 inside the substrate and 2 above it.
I will use two 7w heating pads and a temperature controller to let the substrate’s temperature be constant at about 24°C.
In particular I will put the pads onto an insulating panel and under a tray where I will put the pots.
Onto them I will put a box upside down to let the humidity increase.
I think I will install a couple of computer fans to let the air move controlled with a timer.
About humidity I will spray water with a sprayer.
Now…what do you think about it?
How should I setting up the fans timer and how often should I spray water?
How often should I water the pots?
Would you use only perlite or the mix with peat?
Thank you very much!
I’m a big fan of doing things the optimal way but I think that unless you are planning on doing research experiments or making money from the results of this setup you are going a bit over-board.
Get some 16 oz plastic drinking cups filled with damp 50/50 peat moss/perlite mix, scratch the bottom 1/2" of the cutting a bit to expose the cambium layer, stick it in the cup 1/2 way and stick a sandwitch bag over it with the corners cut off to let some air in, stick it in a south facing window sill, add water when the cup feels very light - BOOM - 80% success rate
I will clean/sterilize the pots with bleach and sterilize substrate in oven at 120°C for few minutes.
Most plastics begin to soften and deform at above 100°C so you might want to rethink this. You only need to heat soil (or anything, really) to a temperature of 175 °F (80 °C) for 5–10 min, to destroy all active bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Fungi spores are a bit tougher to kill though.
I read that kiwi (Actinidia chinesis and Actinidia deliciosa) are not easily propagable with wooden cuttings, so that’s why I would made it this way.
Obviously I won’t put the plastic pots at 120°C, only the substrate! camon man! XD
By the way I just noted that high himidity for wooden cuttings is not necessary so I won’t spray water.
I guess that I’m just crazy or lucky. I started 4 hardwood cuttings of kiwi (Actinidia chinesis) in cups with homemade compost with a little perlite mixed in with a baggie over them. 3 out of 4 ain’t bad, and the one failure was my fault for knocking it off onto the floor. One has a 2 ft. long runner now and one has several huge leaves. The third is a little smaller, but coming right along.
TFN
Did they rooted?
I read they usually make leaves and growth but they finally die because they don’t develop roots.
By the way where did you put them?
Inside, outside? Which temperature?
This is one of my “experiments” I will also put pots outside just like they do for grapes.
I will also put some cuttings in the fridge and try on May and will also try in water.
I have already had to repot them and they have a good root system. I will plant out in spring. I started them in my greenhouse.
TFN
When did you started them?
Which temperature has your greenhouse?
Is it a little greenhouse or a big one?
I Started cuttings in late summer, early fall. My greenhouse is unheated, except from transferred heat from the house. It is only 12 ft. x 16 ft. I use it to over winter potted citrus, pineapple plants, garcinias , etc. As far as temps, I just keep nighttime temps above 40° as much as possible, but day time it is open.
TFN