Regular readers may remember that I experimented with a new plant 'rooting system' (above) back in early August; I used a compost-filled Tennis Ball rather than an expensive purpose-made black plastic job.
My target was a red flowering Oleander, and I followed the instructions exactly.
The prescribed two months have now passed, so I opened up to see if it had worked.
Nothing, nix, nowt, nada, rien de tout, niente. Not a single hint of a root. Bloody useless. Total waste of time!
43 comments:
But you learned something - it doesn't work.
It all looked so promising too.
What about a cuttings put in water until roots appear.
I agree with sticking the cuttings in water, the first oleander plant I produced that way is now flowering well. I intend putting various cuttings directly in the ground in a sheltered spot later this year and leaving them over winter, just to see how that works.
I've now just stuck it in the ground; I expect it'll root quite well all by itself.
I had a neighbour who used to put her Oleander cuttings in a bottle of water, and they always rooted well. I shouldn't have bothered with the silly ball.
I go down the " stick it in a glass of water" route. Usually works fine!
I expect the oleander thought "he's having a laugh here, fuck this" and went back to sleep.
I purchased the root balls and used 2, both mine failed, but a friend who used hers in the spring has now 2 nice plants. Mine was so dry inside, so its something to think about.
How disappointing. An application of rooting powder and into some quality potting mix might have seen them rooting.
This experiment only goes to prove that tennis balls are for playing tennis with.
The route to roots.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.
I shall do that in future.
Or 'Another gullible plonker... I'll show him!'
I watered mine regularly. I wonder if they are better used in Spring? Perhaps I'll try again next year.
I did use good quality compost, but no rooting powder. I was led to believe that it would work like magic.
Too much poisonous dog saliva on it perhaps.
It was all very exciting until I opened it.
That's what Novak Djokovic finds too.
That's a pity..was it around a leaf node, and did you scrape the skin lightly to give it something to work on just at that point?. I have seen it work on a Swiss Cheese Plant
I put a small stem of an Oleander in a jar of water for a couple of months, and it is now a fine plant.
But think of all the anticipation that the experiment gave you and the hope that when you opened the ball it would be full of roots.
Briony
x
You performed the experiment for us and we all get to learn something. This is science!
I thought it looked like a brilliant idea. The Oleander perhaps thought differently.
I peeled away the 'bark' before putting it into the compost etc. That's what I was told to do.
I shall revert to that method in the future.
Yes, but the disappointment was worse than the anticipation.
Glad to be of service Pip'.
I thought so too. But the Oleander decided to play silly b*ggers.
It is not a loss if you learned something. I go the water route to root. I have vases all over with cutting of plants that I like.
Bringing cuttings on is simple. A gardening friend staying with me (during the brief period it was allowed in August or September) took cuttings from one of my bushes and showed me how to do it and duly supervised me whilst I did. Same time, same bush, same method, same soil, same watering etc regime. All hers have survived and all mine have died.
I usually just stick cuttings in sandy compost, and they take OK.
I half-inched some cuttings of a blue flowering plant next door, which look as if they've already taken. Next I have to find out what the plant's called.
My best outcomes for growing a plant from a cutting are: in the compost or in a glass of water. I like to keep it simple. Plus if it works, don't change it...
I'm sure if you posted a photo of leaf and or flower someone would know.
Oleanders are very poisonous weeds here. Used as a landscape plant, even in the middle of highways, can tolerate the worst conditions from our desert weather. Extremely toxic but lovely blooms.
My mother 'stole' cuttings off everything she saw. Her method was a small vertical slit in the stem, a bread bag wrapped loosely around the stem over the cut & two rubber bands to hold the bag on. She got cuttings from things that weren't meant to cut . . .
That's exactly what I shall do this morning. I just happen to be a very close friend of Margaret Barwick's.
I think the glass of water method is best for Oleanders. Stick it in and forget about it.
Yes, everything about them is poisonous, even the smoke from a bonfire if one burns bits. But lovely flowers.
My own mother was a keen gardener and flower arranger, and was always taking small cuttings from places where she shouldn't have. I believe most gardeners do.
I just bung bits of oleander into pots and cover with a plastic bag and they root easily. I've been told that all parts are poisonous, so don't have a pooch chewing any old leaves!
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