On Thursday, July 31, 2014 7:43:36 AM UTC-7, Pat Kiewicz wrote:
mkr5000 said:

I want to make something to mount in a south facing window to root

cuttings (coleus, ivy etc).



I want to use some small bottles and was wondering if a colored bottle

(amber etc) would be better

than clear? Perhaps less light would be better for roots?



I doubt it makes much difference, so go with what is attractive and

convenient for you. You could even make an experiment of it by

comparing your success rate with clear vs. colored bottles.



Some pointers:

- keep the water clean



- some plants will do better if allowed to 'callous' a bit before putting

them in water (put them in an inflated plastic bag overnight), others need

to be plunged immediately.

What's with the plastic bag, Pat? I callous potential transplants by just leaving them on a saucer or paper towel out of direct sun. I should think that putting them in a plastic bag would get just the OPPOSITE of desired effect -- callousing. Moisture from transplant would condense inside the plastic bag.

- when transitioning the cuttings to pots you might want to put them

(temporarily) in a shadier spot, and it is recommended you transition to

a pot at least temporarily before setting water-rooted cuttings into the

ground.



Most of the rooting I've done recently was with cutting set into sterile

potting media directly. These are bagged in clear plastic and set in an area

out of direct sunlight until the cuttings start to grow.

HB