jay65
Junior Member
Posts: 69 
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Post by jay65 on Feb 1, 2016 17:01:26 GMT
Well, just a quick update. I have about 80 cuttings now all busting a gut to root. Some look quite sorry for themselves but this is normal I know, and most will pick up in a few days (hopefully). I've already got 39 cuttings rooted and popped into 3in pots. Plenty of Trooper Dans', Cafe Au Lait. The Kenora Challengers all look like nice little plants already. Westerton Folly mother plants look really good and strong this year so far, and the few Brenda T's look great too. Hamari Girl also looks strong, as does Hillcrest Royal and Trelyn Kiwi. So all good there. The Blyton Softer Gleam, Marys Jomanda and Dikara Superb tubers are all starting to shoot nicely, so big hopes for those. And even one of my George Marston Tuber is shooting, which is good for a notoriously slow starter. On the negative side, Kenora Wow, Vals Candy and Hillcrest Candy all look like they are struggling a little to root, but fortuantely I have some pretty good tubers where I have a fair bit of cutting growth to come. Nothing coming through on the Sir Alf Ramsey and Oakwood Goldcrest tubers yet. i68.tinypic.com/30kyc0k.jpg[/IMG] Just a few of the already rooted cuttings in their 3in pots  Some of the mother plants in the Vitopod  A really nice little Kenora Challenger plant  Some more mother plants of various varieties  |
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Post by Cat on Feb 1, 2016 19:13:09 GMT
Mother plant? I've always thought that is the big main plant that you take cuttings from, have I missed something in dahlia terminology folks??? Feeling thick...  |
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jay65
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by jay65 on Feb 1, 2016 20:25:43 GMT
Mother plant? I've always thought that is the big main plant that you take cuttings from, have I missed something in dahlia terminology folks??? Feeling thick... Hi Cat. In a few weeks those little plants in 3in pots I have there, will be big enough to take cuttings from. Starting with the tip when it's big enough, which will then throw side shoots which will then be secondary cuttings. Should get another 5 cuttings from each of these little plants, hence the term 'mother plant'. I probably have enough time in some cases, to actually get another batch of cuttings from those cuttings too for some varieties. Therefore 1 little plant at this stage becomes 5 plants in a few weeks, and potentially each one of those 5 can give another 5 cuttings making 25 plants. All from 1 early rooted cutting. Well, that's the theory at least. |
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Post by Cat on Feb 1, 2016 22:59:42 GMT
Aaaah that makes sense. Thanks |
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Post by Raymond on Feb 2, 2016 0:35:13 GMT
Looking good jay65 your in a hurry for these plants ! Hehe a tip I was given gently spray the crowns of the Tuber with some warm water with some maxicrop in it not a lot just a little every 2 to 3 days . Was told sometimes a tuber if it was very dry can be hard at the crown and regular spraying or misting will just soften the crown so the new growth eyes come. Might help with your sir Alf. I looked tonight when putting my fleece tent up and turned the trays and all four hillcrest Jersie now awake plus all three Michelle and two of my new trial ones. Just waiting on wittemans superba and cherwell goldcrest of the ones I have started. Starting the rest tomorrow or Thursday. They will be in titan trays as bigger tubers like Ruskin Andrea made a lovely big tuber as did garden friends and ryecroft pixie. |
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Post by Raymond on Feb 2, 2016 0:37:35 GMT
jay65 how long are your cuttings on average taking to root at this time of year ? Are you using a grow light ? Look a lovely green colour very healthy and squat.
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jay65
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by jay65 on Feb 2, 2016 1:01:22 GMT
Hi Raymond. I do spray the tubers nearly every day, just with a mist and once a week with a mix of water and a Seaweed Tea that I get made up fresh from a guy I know on the North West Coast of England. This guy goes out onto the beach near his home and collects the seaweed, then just makes up a tea solution of it. I dilute it down and it gives the early cuttings a rich foliage whilst they're rooting. I've found this really useful at this time of year because of the short days which can produce some slightly pale cuttings initially, but they soon gain a deep green richness when they're on the seaweed tea and starting to root. I give them a spray with plain water @ 18*C and the Seawood Tea mixture on alternate days, but only when they have started to root. Sorry, I know that sounds like I pamper them too much maybe! I then use the Seaweed Tea on the plants for the first half of the season, then he also makes me a up a Tomato Tea, which smells just like licorice and is really thick, which I dilute down later in the season to get nice blooms.
No Growlights on any of my tubers.
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jay65
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by jay65 on Feb 2, 2016 1:05:15 GMT
jay65 how long are your cuttings on average taking to root at this time of year ? Are you using a grow light ? Look a lovely green colour very healthy and squat. Roots are taking anything from 11 to 17 days at the moment, but can depend on the cutting of course. The thicker stemmed cuttings can be at the upper end of that range whilst some of the more regular stemmed cuttings nearer to 11 or 12 days. Overall average is about 14 days. |
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Post by Raymond on Feb 3, 2016 10:58:16 GMT
Hi jay65 I wish my cuttings last year rooted so quickly took about 21days even in April/may . When they did root they made good plants. That seaweed and tomato tea sounds good does he sell it online ? |
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jay65
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by jay65 on Feb 3, 2016 11:51:34 GMT
Hi jay65 I wish my cuttings last year rooted so quickly took about 21days even in April/may . When they did root they made good plants. That seaweed and tomato tea sounds good does he sell it online ? Hi Raymond. I will PM you his email address. I had some left over from last season, so I'm still using that, but I presume he is still doing it. As I said, I will PM you his email address over. |
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Post by diggie on Feb 4, 2016 18:11:56 GMT
2 Shoots now showing on Dikara Superb after 28 days on heat. Nothing yet on Willo's Surprise or Marston George. Today set off Oakwood Goldcrest, Winholme Diane and Weston Pirate. Will set off more in a few days time. Have earthed up the tubers I have set off today as shown in dahliadaves photo. Will see if this method helps.
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Post by robh on Feb 4, 2016 21:37:10 GMT
Finally got hill rest Jessie to move
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Post by ste b on Feb 5, 2016 22:29:53 GMT
Hi Dahlia friends lifted some tubers and now there on heat so the season begins for me started a month later this season , it's been hard sitting on my hands but I only really want to take cuttings in April and first two weeks in May. Decs and ball dahlias down , might put cactus verities down next week or week after.
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Post by Lou78W on Feb 6, 2016 16:07:57 GMT
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