Info on starting new plants... [pics]

[edro]

I have a collections of plants growing in my cube at work, and I (and others) want to grow other plants off of the existing plants. I have actually cut off sections of vines that are working quite nicely, and I have also cut off sections of a Schefflera plant that is also starting to work out ok.

My question is, how to get one of the newly planted shoots, to grow a "trunk".
I just put the "shoots" into a glass of water for a month or two, and roots develop. I then planted them into a pit with dirt and the roots keep growing, but I dunno how to get a "trunk" to develop and to grow more branches. It's just like the plant's roots grow, but no leaves develop.

Pics would help a ton, I know...

Any online tutorials for growing new plants off of existing plants. BTW, this is done without seeds.

Anyone know what this process is called? What the name of the "shoots" is?

Thanks!

 

[Brutuskend]

Give them time. They will eventually be just like the parent plant.

 

[Ryan]

You could use the pinching method - you pinch off the tip of the plant's stem, causing them to grow more offshoots, but the umbrella tree that you have is not a fast grower, so don't expect anything overnight.

In young cuttings, a well developed root system is usually what is needed most, so the cutting will tend to grow roots faster. If each individual cutting is in it's own pot, with good soil, just give it some time, they'll start growing.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Yup, I do it all the time! Just be patient and give them time to grow and develop. I have some nice plants from cuttings, complete with trunks!

 

[woowoo]

Root hormone is your friend....

 

[glen]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Root hormone is your friend....

Yep. Go buy some for $2 at any local nursery.

 

[Eli]

Your details are kinda sketchy..

He doesen't need rooting hormone if he is using the cup of water method.

What confuses me is the whole "trunk" part. So you're saying that the plant doesen't grow at all after you plant it, it just sits there?

It's called "propagation", "taking cuttings", "cloning", etc.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: Eli
Your details are kinda sketchy..

He doesen't need rooting hormone if he is using the cup of water method.

What confuses me is the whole "trunk" part. So you're saying that the plant doesen't grow at all after you plant it, it just sits there?

That's what I was thinking he was saying considering that he has a slow growing umbrella tree.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Eli
Your details are kinda sketchy..

He doesen't need rooting hormone if he is using the cup of water method.

What confuses me is the whole "trunk" part. So you're saying that the plant doesen't grow at all after you plant it, it just sits there?

That's what I was thinking he was saying considering that he has a slow growing umbrella tree.

Ahh. I missed the kind of plant, and didn't know what Schefflera was offhand.

Yes, slow growing.. we have one that is like 40 years old.

If it's grown roots, but isn't growing.. it simply isn't getting enough (something).

Most likely light. Our umbrella tree goes outside in the summer, and while it is slow growing.. it still grows considerably.

 

[Lonyo]

From! It's from!

 

[edro]

Here is a drawing of what I mean.

The actual starter plant. (Not shown real well, mainly showing my computer )

Notice how it has a "trunk"? I am guessing that will come with time, but that plant is growing on a lava rock and the roots go over the rock, then down into the dirt. I think the rock gives it a good base to grow on. I wonder if I should put a rock under my plants?

 

[Ausm]

I used to have one hell of a green thumb in college

Sysadmin

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: edro13
Here is a drawing of what I mean.

The actual starter plant. (Not shown real well, mainly showing my computer )

Notice how it has a "trunk"? I am guessing that will come with time, but that plant is growing on a lava rock and the roots go over the rock, then down into the dirt. I think the rock gives it a good base to grow on. I wonder if I should put a rock under my plants?

Oh.

That simply takes time.

The older the plant gets, the more "woody" and thicker the main trunk will get.

Do you ever fertilize?

 

[edro]

No, I don't fertilize... but I use Miracle Grow potting soil, so that has some in it. I change the dirt every now and then.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: edro13
No, I don't fertilize... but I use Miracle Grow potting soil, so that has some in it. I change the dirt every now and then.

Ah, yes, don't fertilize if you use potting soil that is fortified.

You don't need to change the soil until the plant becomes rootbound. Transplanting is very stressful, and should be avoided unless necessary.

 

[woowoo]

Start them in five gallon buckets and hang them in trees........

 

[Atomicus]

Invest time in bonsai rather than regenerating clippings; very gratifying.
Clippings are usually from herbacious plants (mostly plants which can grow as a vine), which do not truly have a woody trunk.

If you want to experiment, look for grafting techniques so you can transplant a smaller "trunk" to a larger one. Thats my best guess besides letting it grow? :thumbsup: