Newb root cutting question

[damien]

I've read that some species will propagate from root cuttings, so I gave it a shot after repotting my willow leaf ficus and trimming some fat roots.
Put some roots in some good bonsai soil, did not use any hormones or anything. I keep the soil moist but not wet.

My question is do they need light to bud? Since there are no leaves yet? How do you propagate a root cutting?

also, I tried tenting them... But fuzzy white mold grew on the tips of the root cuttings. I cut the mold off and now let them breath free.
Any help?


I''m kind of a new at propagation, so I've got just about every method out there going right now - cuttings in water with and without hormones, cuttings in a good mix of rooting material with and without hormones, and air layering one big branch on my willow leaf ficus that needs to be pruned anyway later on.

Any advice on the root propagation is most welcome!

 

[Poink88]

Ficus hardly need any rooting hormone...they do well w/o any. They need heat and moisture more than anything else now but as it buds, it will need light. Just plant the root w/ about an inch sticking out of the soil. Bagging helps to hold moisture but if you plant your cutting deep enough, you hardly get any benefit from bagging...just make sure your soil doesn't dry out. Putting a layer of sphagnum moss on top works well for me. As with anything, too much (heat or water) is bad for your new plant.

Good luck!

 

[Poink88]

also, I tried tenting them... But fuzzy white mold grew on the tips of the root cuttings. I cut the mold off and now let them breath free.

Not sure how much you cut but note that all the new shoots will be growing at the cambium layer (between the bark and the woody part) of the chopped end. It will start looking like callus then turn green and fuzzy...all those will become leaves and branches...too much actually and you will have to thin it down eventually.

Good luck!