On 8/2/2014 8:52 AM, Higgs Boson wrote:
On Friday, August 1, 2014 5:26:50 PM UTC-7, David E. Ross wrote:
On 8/1/2014 1:13 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:

On 31/07/2014 16:00, David E. Ross wrote:



Plants rooted in water often fail to do well when moved to pots. The

root hairs are severely damaged when suddenly packed into soil. Certain

plants will survive and even thrive if left growing in water;



Your reply make me think about this. You are quite right about failure

to move from a liquid to a solid growth medium. I wondered if it was

possible to have the best of both worlds - effectively root the plant in

waterlogged compost, and once rooted, allow the water to drain away.

Little if any root disturbance takes place, and the gentle transition

from wet to normal compost might allow the plant to adapt. Have you ever

tried anything like this?





The cutting is likely to rot if the medium is waterlogged. A 50%-50%

mix of coarse sand and peat moss drains very well and will remain quite

moist without becoming soggy. The moisture will remain available to the

cutting until the mix is almost bone dry. In the meantime, air can

enter the mix; and roots -- new or old -- do need air in the soil.



I never add any nutrients to the rooting mix because they can promote

mold and other forms of rot.

Very interesting. Based on actual experience? Replicated?

HB


No, not based on experience. Based on gardening books, including
several editions of Sunset's "Western Garden Book".

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary