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#120795 Aug 29th, 2007 at 08:00 PM
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cheeky monkey
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cheeky monkey
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Originally Posted by Jiffymouse
zuzu, what is the forsythe pot method? i'm not familiar with that?


Hi Jiffy, wavy
I started using this method several years ago
and have had the best luck with it.
I made a photo tutorial for another site that I visit,
I'd be happy to share it here, too. grin

To make the Forsythe Pots -
I use a clean 6 inch plastic pot with a well-fitted saucer
a very small (2 inch) terracotta pot - bottom drain hole sealed
(I used duct tape)
You'll also need vermiculite
and something to keep the vermiculite from running
out through the drain holes.

[Linked Image]

(I used a square of weed-block here,
but a single layer of newspaper works, too).

[Linked Image]

Fill the 6 inch pot with vermiculite,
to within about 3/4 in from the top
then add enough water to the pot so that it thoroughly moistens
the vermiculite and fills the saucer - do this ever so gently -
the water will wash the vermiculite right out of the pot
if you aren't careful.

Then press the tiny terracotta pot down into the center
of the larger pot, leaving at least a ΒΌ inch of the lip
above the level of the vermiculite.

Fill the terracotta pot with water,
this will act as a reservoir, making the unit self-watering,
just make sure you keep the little pot topped off with water.

[Linked Image]

Next -

I use rooting hormone and a little dibble (poking stick).

[Linked Image]

If the cutting is semi-hardwood,
I GENTLY scrape a couple of small spots along
the bottom inch or two of the cutting, using the edge of my clippers
- - scrape very, very lightly - -
you just want to expose the bright green layer - no deeper
(if the cutting is soft-stemmed, like Coleus,
there is no need to scrape).

[Linked Image]

I coat the bottom few inches with the rooting hormone,
tapping off any excess.

[Linked Image]

Using the dibble, I make a hole in the moist vermiculite
so that I can insert the cutting without rubbing off the hormone powder.

[Linked Image]

I put the cutting into the hole,
then firm the vermiculite around it.

You can put lots of cuttings into one of these pots.

[Linked Image]

Finally, and very importantly, be sure to add a label
and put the pot somewhere that is bright,
but where it will get NO direct sun.

[Linked Image]

I will GENTLY tug at the cuttings in about 2 weeks
to see if they seem to be setting roots
- some plants root quickly, others may take considerably longer.

Remove and discard any cuttings that are clearly unhealthy.

If they have a "light grip" on the vermiculite,
I let them stay until they have a good firm grip.

When they seem firmly rooted, remove the little terracotta pot
and gently remove your newly rooted plants,
separating them from each other gently.

Plant them into a good potting medium,
there is no need to remove any vermiculite that clings to the roots.

[Linked Image]

I use this method for rooting all sorts of plants,
it works really well for me.

Last edited by Jiffymouse; Aug 30th, 2007 at 09:16 AM. Reason: making this it's own topic

~~zuzu~~
Jiffymouse
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Jiffymouse
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WOW! i'm making this it's own topic! kissie thank you!!

#121007 Aug 30th, 2007 at 10:19 AM
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cheeky monkey
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cheeky monkey
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You're quite welcome - grin
I do hope that everyone who tries this
has as much success with it as I have.



~~zuzu~~
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The Man
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I've been usign this method too, funny how one one commented when I made my post (just joking!) anyways, this is a great method, the pot in the middle makes sure that the vermiculite is just moist enough to root instead of makign the cuttings rot


[Linked Image]

Helping the world one seed at a time

When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. Mary Ann LaPensee
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cheeky monkey
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cheeky monkey
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As a follow-up,
I thought I'd share a couple of more photos that I took today
- just 25 days later.

I've been keeping close track of how things were going,
occasionally I'd tug gently to see if they "felt well-rooted.

Today, I removed the terracotta pot from the center
and, using a small table fork, pried them ever so gently
from the vermiculite.

They look great and will be packaged
and mailed out to their new homes tomorrow.

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Originally Posted by kennyso
I've been usign this method too . . . I made (a) post

blush I'm sorry Kenny, I didn't realize that this method
had already been discussed here.

I'm glad to know that you are also having success with it. thumbup


~~zuzu~~
Jiffymouse
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Jiffymouse
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Originally Posted by kennyso
I've been usign this method too, funny how one one commented when I made my post (just joking!) anyways, this is a great method, the pot in the middle makes sure that the vermiculite is just moist enough to root instead of makign the cuttings rot
kenny kissie i'd have been asking you instead if i had caught it! i'm not sure what caught my attention in zuzu's original post, but i broke this off as it's own topic (i can do that ya know lol )

zuzu, thank you for showing us the progress. i am definitely going to set up some pots this winter for the spring.

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The Man
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I was just joking...great minds think alike! lol Maja, are those hydrangeas?


[Linked Image]

Helping the world one seed at a time

When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. Mary Ann LaPensee

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