About a decade and a half ago there was a sudden burst if interest amongst
amateur gardeners in the rooting of cuttings in a gel. Then, quite
suddenly, it blew over and if you now talk about it in a garden centre, you
are confronted with an uncomprehending gaze from the attendant.

I experimented with it in a small way and was quite successful, achieving
something like 70% success rate in the cuttings I tried. It was a neat way
of avoiding having to see to the proper watering of the cuttings, and it
made it possible to see the development of the roots without having to upset
the cuttings in any way.

Why has the concept disappeared from the scene?

What was the gel which was used?

[Franz Heymann]