Author Topic: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?  (Read 5725 times)

Kelley_GA8a

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 81
    • Stockbridge, GA USA 8a
    • View Profile
Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« on: June 03, 2019, 07:04:59 AM »
Question: can you root cuttings or budsticks without leaves? I’m looking at purchasing a clonerr such as this one for insurance on failed grafts. Thanks guys and have a great week!


Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2019, 07:12:55 AM »
I bought one of those before & had a better success rate just dipping the tip of the stick in CloneX & sticking them in soil. Lemons are about the easiest citrus to root. Yes you can root sticks without leaves, you want to keep them in the shade with high humidity until they leaf out. Here the humidity is high enough I don't even need to cover them. Once in a while I will wrap the stick Parafilm tape just for the hell of it.

Bomand

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 564
    • LouisianaCFDFMY
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2019, 07:18:45 AM »
I have always left half a leaf on cuttings that I root. The cutting needs to continue with its process but in a reduced manner. I have stuck a plump budstick in the propagating medium and it has popped and grown
 I guess my answer would be yes. Good conditions, good plump budstick....success.

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2019, 07:33:33 AM »
I have a few going now, I'll keep you posted...

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2019, 07:41:27 AM »
Normally if I cut the budsticks myself, I leave the last three leaves on the stick. Like I said lemons are pretty much super easy. One of my old photos.

« Last Edit: June 03, 2019, 08:20:49 AM by Laaz »

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2019, 08:20:26 AM »
Sometimes they try a little too hard...

TooFarNorth

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 223
    • U.S.A., Georgia, 8A
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2019, 08:20:54 AM »
I like to leave half a leaf if possible, but have had good success both ways.

TF

Vlad

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 245
    • Worcester, MA USDA zone 5b
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2019, 08:29:49 AM »
On My 6 I stuck 8 budsticks from CCPP in soil, under one cover to maintain humidity and 80F bottom heat. So far, one (shirokolistvennyi mandarin) has put out a shoot about a week ago.

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2019, 11:59:39 AM »
I tried rooting a lime twig a year ago.  It still hasn't leafed out, but it is still green.  I've never tried this before... I can only assume this is slower than usual.  I used rooting hormone.  Twig has no leaves.

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2019, 12:11:14 PM »
Way too long...

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2019, 12:41:09 PM »
One day it will either leaf out or die.  I'm waiting to see which comes first.   :)

lebmung

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1097
    • Romania, Bucharest,7b (inside city 8a)
    • View Profile
    • Plante tropicale
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2019, 05:56:18 PM »
Yes you can root without leaves but it will take a little bit longer.
Not all the citrus are easy to root, for instance satsuma mandarins, rooting percentage is very low.
Rough lemon, Trifoliate orange, Lemon, Cleopatra mandarin and Yuzu all root well in 30-45 days, the rest expect 90 to 120 days. Also Ichang papeda roots well depending on the season.

Sylvain

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 263
    • Bergerac, France
    • View Profile
    • Looking for Wakonai.
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #12 on: June 04, 2019, 09:37:52 AM »
> ... Trifoliate orange, ... root well in 30-45 days,
Well, now we know that it is true only if you take the twigs on an immature plant.

lebmung

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1097
    • Romania, Bucharest,7b (inside city 8a)
    • View Profile
    • Plante tropicale
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #13 on: June 04, 2019, 09:42:40 AM »
> ... Trifoliate orange, ... root well in 30-45 days,
Well, now we know that it is true only if you take the twigs on an immature plant.

And only in June and July with the highest probability. Mature twigs also root, but it takes longer and percentage is very low. Tested.

Kelley_GA8a

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 81
    • Stockbridge, GA USA 8a
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #14 on: June 04, 2019, 01:58:57 PM »
> ... Trifoliate orange, ... root well in 30-45 days,
Well, now we know that it is true only if you take the twigs on an immature plant.

And only in June and July with the highest probability. Mature twigs also root, but it takes longer and percentage is very low. Tested.

When you speak of maturity, do you mean fruiting age or green v. aged wood?

lebmung

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1097
    • Romania, Bucharest,7b (inside city 8a)
    • View Profile
    • Plante tropicale
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #15 on: June 05, 2019, 05:46:26 AM »
Fruiting age,  green bark taken only in June/July from new growth.

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #16 on: June 05, 2019, 06:54:32 AM »
Actually, trifoliata & it's hybrids will root out any time during the growing season. When I cleft graft, I take the top I cut off & dip it in rooting powder & stick them in a pot & most root right out.

lebmung

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1097
    • Romania, Bucharest,7b (inside city 8a)
    • View Profile
    • Plante tropicale
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #17 on: June 05, 2019, 05:20:15 PM »
Actually, trifoliata & it's hybrids will root out any time during the growing season. When I cleft graft, I take the top I cut off & dip it in rooting powder & stick them in a pot & most root right out.

I agree

Kelley_GA8a

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 81
    • Stockbridge, GA USA 8a
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #18 on: June 05, 2019, 07:55:58 PM »



Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #19 on: June 05, 2019, 08:15:22 PM »
Good luck with it Kelly, keep any eye out for mold.

Kelley_GA8a

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 81
    • Stockbridge, GA USA 8a
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #20 on: June 06, 2019, 11:16:45 AM »
Thanks Laaz, and thank you everyone for your help and advice!

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #21 on: June 15, 2019, 04:06:16 PM »
my 1yr old cutting has decided to flower.  Still no leaves.

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #22 on: June 15, 2019, 06:06:06 PM »
Lol! Knock the flower buds off.

Bomand

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 564
    • LouisianaCFDFMY
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #23 on: June 15, 2019, 07:15:34 PM »
Rub them blooms off. That root system & little bit of tissue is gonna not support them blooms.....fruit....

Bomand

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 564
    • LouisianaCFDFMY
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #24 on: June 15, 2019, 08:47:13 PM »
Lemon is famous for doing this. I grow lemon on its own roots and l start a bunch of cuttings in a big pot. If I take the cuttings from the top of a tree they break out with blooms and fruit before the cuttings have a root system that will support the blooms. I like to rub the blooms off and give the cutting the nutrients that would go to blooms and fruit. M lemon is really bad about it.

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #25 on: June 16, 2019, 10:08:54 AM »
Yeah I took the blooms off.  This one is a bearss lime.  I don't actually need another lime, but I had never tried rooting cuttings before so it gave it a shot for the experience.

Bomand

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 564
    • LouisianaCFDFMY
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #26 on: June 16, 2019, 01:56:17 PM »
Sometimes lime take a while to root. I have some that have been in the medium a year...no roots...no leaves...but not dead....not taking up valuable space so I am nust going to let them sit till something happens....

Millet

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4798
    • Colorado
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #27 on: June 16, 2019, 02:25:28 PM »
If you want to try your hand at rooting a citrus cultivar, choose lemon.  Very easy to root.

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #28 on: June 16, 2019, 03:09:07 PM »
Thanks.  I must have been confused i thought it was lime that is easy to root.  I now have a plain eureka lemon so i will some cuttings from it.

Whenever I see lemon, bearss lime,  or calomindins for sale they look to be cuttings, so I assumed they must be easy too root.

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #29 on: June 16, 2019, 06:05:17 PM »
All lemons are easy to root, even the lemonade is very easy to root.

TooFarNorth

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 223
    • U.S.A., Georgia, 8A
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #30 on: June 16, 2019, 08:29:38 PM »
I've had decent luck with limes, but the lemons are much more successful.  I have even rooted several root stock suckers, and most of them are easier than lime.

TFN

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #31 on: June 17, 2019, 07:32:44 AM »
I'll give you a heads up on rooting with no leaves. Wrap the cutting or budstick in parafilm & just leave the bottom part that will be in the soil exposed. Dip it in rooting powder & watch it go. You don't need to put a bag over it & the new growth will push right through the parafilm.

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #32 on: June 17, 2019, 07:57:55 AM »

Kelley_GA8a

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 81
    • Stockbridge, GA USA 8a
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #33 on: June 17, 2019, 02:46:36 PM »
What a fantastic idea, thanks Laaz!!

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #34 on: July 04, 2019, 10:14:34 AM »
leaves!


Millet

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4798
    • Colorado
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #35 on: July 04, 2019, 11:22:21 AM »
brian, how long was the cutting in the medium before leaves appeared.  Also, what is the cultivar?

brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #36 on: July 04, 2019, 12:18:28 PM »
Almost exactly one year since I took the cutting.  It is a bearss lime.  Since I took the cutting it had no visible changes until a month ago when it flowered, and just now when it put out leaves.  I've kept it in my greenhouse since last summer, watering occassionally. 

Laaz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
    • Charleston, SC 9a
    • View Profile
    • Citrusgrowers forum
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #37 on: July 04, 2019, 12:35:35 PM »
That's insane. By comparison, here's a budstick of Genoa lemon JoeReal sent me a few weeks ago.


brian

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3355
    • Pennsylvania (zone 6) w/ heated greenhouse
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #38 on: July 04, 2019, 01:53:16 PM »
Probably mine was just stunted.  Nice to see it come alive though. 

Millet

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4798
    • Colorado
    • View Profile
Re: Rooting Cuttings Without Leaves?
« Reply #39 on: July 04, 2019, 10:09:32 PM »
I believe that lemons are just about the easiest citrus variety to root.  Anyway, it is either lemons or Laaz's favorite tree the Meyer lemon.