procedure for cuttings

From: Kathy Upton <SKKUPTO at UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU> on 1997.12.01 at 18:56:38(1675) Dewey-To make a cutting of Amorph. go up the petiole to where it is 3-parted, then further on to where it is 2-parted. Right where it branches there into 2 divisions is where you should cut. You can get 2 cuttings from there, and 2 from each of the remaining divisions for a total of 6 cuttings from something that branches in a similar way. You want to end up with a cutting about 8-12 inches long and the bottom 3 inches will be placed into soil (a good rooting mix like peat and perlite is what I used). The bottom 3 inches should be free of leafy material except for the "vein", so cut back to there so it looks like a stick on those 3 inches. You can try rooting hormone because I used it when I experimented with Amorph cuttings at MoBot when I worked there, although recently when I rooted the Chlorospatha I didn't use it. So for the portion of the cutting that will remain above the soil, reduce the size back to 5-7 inches or so, by cutting off heavy leaflets that the "vein" can't support or cut leaflets in half. Place in a warm humid area and it takes about 6-8 weeks for roots and a small bulbil to form. I did it with A. bulbifer and A. konjac but the success rate was always low. I haven't tried it with any other species, so let me know if it works for you. -Kathy Upton

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