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The cuttings will be wrapped in moist paper.

My garden is 100% organic. I use only natural fertilizers. I do not use any chemicals.

ALWAYS FRESH -- I ship the cuttings the same day as I cut them. 

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When you buy my plants, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

Within 24 hours from the time this perishable material was delivered to you, you have the choice to send me an email with photographs describing the plant condition and your concerns. If I don't hear from you within 24 hours, you forfeit all claims related to the plants you purchased from me.

You understand that these plants became your property, and I have no responsibility for their development under your care. You will not ask me for any refunds or free replacements, or any other forms of compensation.

I am not offering any specific directions/instructions to follow and I am not taking any responsibility for the outcome of your rooting efforts.

Below is the explanation of the no-blame, no-refund policy for this item.

These cuttings do not have any roots.

Experimentation with cuttings is an excellent therapy.

I am one of those who believe that people need plants. People need to see green leaves, and they want to be happy doing simple things and accomplishing what they can every day. In addition, this hobby can be profitable - you can grow seedlings and sell them several months later. We can make this planet a little bit greener, cleaner, and healthier!

My favorite method for rooting involves a clear plastic container (such as a shoe box from Lowe's or a clear-plastic container for cakes) and live moss from the nearby woods. There is an opinion that live moss has anti-mold properties.  Also, it is easy to place layers of moss-like clumps or "shelves" with plenty of humid air in between, and then to place cuttings. It is easier and safer to lift the clumps of moss without damaging fragile young roots when you inspect the cuttings periodically.

Horizontal placement of the cuttings often leads to several roots growing at the cutting ends and in the middle, potentially producing 2-3 plants from one cutting. I keep the box at room temperature, 5-6 ft away from windows. The last several photos illustrate the moss and roots growing at one end or both ends, and even in the middle. Some people call this horizontal+live moss method "simplified" aeroponics (Wikipedia: aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium). Recently, I decided to use very short, 3-3.5" long, cuttings. My experiments with short fig cuttings were surprisingly successful: those short 3-3.5" cuttings produced roots at the ends and even in the middle! I did not use any rooting hormone, and based on what I have read, rooting hormone may or may not contribute to the success.  

When I see approx. 1” long white roots, I gently move the cutting to a “pot” made of a clear plastic water bottle with 3-4 holes on the bottom. Clear plastic allows me to see the growing roots. I use regular potting soil, used coffee grounds, and even leaves of mint after drinking mint tea, offering overall loose soil for the roots to propagate. I can see air gaps in the soil (avocado roots seem to like these cavities), and the roots are rapidly growing in this porous, light-weight “soil”. Normally, I place those plastic bottles with rooted cuttings in larger clear plastic containers like Sterlite 55 - 65" storage totes. I spray some water on my plants and keep these large containers closed. This creates a nice, warm, humid environment, so I do not have to worry about watering my young plants too often.

Some people prefer other, direct methods for rooting. They put cuttings 2" deep in the soil and then place a clear plastic bag on top of the pot with the cuttings. I believe that 2" deep is not the best. When I use this method, I plant my cuttings deeper, so only 2" of their tops are above the soil level. One reason is to keep most of the cutting surface in the moist soil. Another reason is that I saw roots growing in the middle of the cuttings.

I never tried heating pads. I know that some people successfully use the back top portion of refrigerators for heating their cuttings. However, I found an "opposite" ...  when I placed cuttings in moist potting soil and left them sitting in the unheated garage (meaning cooler temperature and stable moisture level due to very slow evaporation during a rather mild winter in Virginia) - many cuttings produced roots. This is just another simple idea for those who like experimenting. 

I am staying away from what people do with my cuttings. The first reason is that I am an old man who has to work every day, and very little time to respond to emails. The second reason is that when rooting does not go well, some buyers tend to blame me. In the past, some (fortunately, very-very few) of them asked me for their money back (or any help you can provide). These few would say, "I followed your instructions and the cuttings did not produce roots!"  What instructions did they follow??! All of the above instructions?

In summary, different people use different rooting methods - from damp paper in a zip-lock bag placed on top of a refrigerator to a sophisticated ultrasonic fog system.  I can't provide advice and/or take any responsibility for what my buyers do with my cuttings or how they perform rooting, grafting, etc.

I am an old gardener and I am selling my own plants and cuttings on eBay - to pay my bills. 

I can't work for free, growing and preparing plants, making shipping packages, paying for the shipping, tracking the packages, replying to my worried buyers about why the USPS kept their package in transit for so many days, or guessing and explaining to the buyer why their cuttings failed to produce roots. 

If you believe that an old gardener should work for free, if you have special requirements, unusual demands and interpretations --  P L E A S E     d o    N O T      b u y    f r o m    m e !

By pressing  the  "Buy"    button -- you are accepting this "no-blame" and "no-refund" policy.

Please see my other items. 

 

  

Plant kindness