On 15 Aug 2003 10:38:40 -0700, (Linda W.) wrote:

Phisherman wrote in message . ..
On 14 Aug 2003 10:15:18 -0700, (Linda W.) wrote:

.. first part of message snipped for space ...

Probably. If not, fill a paper or plastic cup (with a drainage hole)
halfway with the vermiculite. Hold the leaf over the top of the
vermiculite and fill the cup with vermiculite. You can put a sandwich
bag over the top held with a rubber band to create a little greenhouse
and place in bright light (maybe *early* morning sun only--a
north-east window is very good). Poke a vent hole in the plastic with
a sharp pencil to allow some air. Make sure the plastic does not
touch the leaf else it might rot. You will see a tiny baby start to
grow at the base in 4 to 6 weeks.

After a baby AF forms, you can pot the baby in a 2" flowerpot. (I used
to use egg cartons to grow them by the dozens.) The roots will cling
to the vermiculite. Then you can re-use the leaf to grow another
baby! I've re-used the same AF leaf up to 3 times with success.

There are dozens of ways to start AFs, but I've found this method to
be the best. I don't think I ever seen a single AF--people just like
to start several for some reason.

Thanks so much for this information.

When you say to use a plastic or paper cup -- do you mean a little one
-- like those little bathroom-size cups? Or a larger one? Would
styrofoam be okay?

I wish I'd tried to root more than one leaf from the old plant. But
hopefully this one will "work."

Thanks again ..

Linda W.

... balance of my previous message snipped for space ...

A plastic, paper, or styrofoam cup will work well. Most important,
put a few holes in the bottom of the cup. A 4 or 6 oz cup is plenty.
I would not pot up the baby until there is plenty of roots. The roots
will cling to the vermiculite. Vermiculite is a couple bucks for a
bag of it.