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Post by johnjess on Feb 20, 2018 13:00:32 GMT
Hi all,
Typically the tuber I was hoping to get most cuttings from ( Mary's Jomanda) isn't playing ball. Its been on bottom heat now for three weeks but still no signs
of any growth at all. However it has roots into the compost from the ends of the tubers . Am I just being too impatient?
I have been reading up on the black bag method of kick starting tubers just in case I need to give it a go, can you tell me when the tuber goes into the black bag
does it need compost in as well? Do I then put it back on heat or just on a warm shelf somewhere.
Also I have noticed on the compost of the tubers I have on heat small black flies running around. How would you recommend dealing with them without harming the shoots
and tubers?
Thank you all again. I hope everyone else's tubers are shooting nicely!
johnjess
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Post by ian on Feb 20, 2018 15:03:11 GMT
JJ First of all MJ is a late starter at times and once it starts then there is no problem, rather than lifting the tuber and disturbing the roots, get a small towel or a piece of a cloth and wet the material lay this on top of the tuber (keeping the towel or cloth moist) Then have a look after a week or so you should see signs of eyes. Don't worry about the scarid fly too much they live on the decaying tuber matter. You can get gnat spray that deals with them quite effectively. All the best Ian.
When I do employ the black bag method then the tubers are put in the bag and folded over then just left for a week or ten days, you should then see signs of life. You can put some moist compost in with the tubers if you like, but usually there is enough moisture in the tubers
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Post by johnjess on Feb 20, 2018 17:36:52 GMT
Thank you again ian.
Another good tip for my notebook.
All the best for the season.
Johnjess
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Post by diggie on Feb 26, 2018 18:03:05 GMT
Hi all, Typically the tuber I was hoping to get most cuttings from ( Mary's Jomanda) isn't playing ball. Its been on bottom heat now for three weeks but still no signs of any growth at all. However it has roots into the compost from the ends of the tubers . Am I just being too impatient? I have been reading up on the black bag method of kick starting tubers just in case I need to give it a go, can you tell me when the tuber goes into the black bag does it need compost in as well? Do I then put it back on heat or just on a warm shelf somewhere. Also I have noticed on the compost of the tubers I have on heat small black flies running around. How would you recommend dealing with them without harming the shoots and tubers? Thank you all again. I hope everyone else's tubers are shooting nicely! johnjess |
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Post by diggie on Feb 26, 2018 18:06:19 GMT
Hi johnjess,
Strange things these dahlia tubers. I have put my Mary's jomanda on heat and they are going crazy. Plenty of cutting material to take very soon.
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Post by johnjess on Feb 27, 2018 18:51:06 GMT
Hi diggie,
This is only my second year of taking cuttings so I suspect I will have made a beginners error somewhere along the line!!
I'm not giving up on my Mary's Jomanda yet though as there are now lots of nice white healthy looking roots appearing now after having it covered with a damp cloth so hopefully that is a good sign.
I can't think what I can have done wrong as Mary's was treated the same as all the others I'm propagating from and all the rest have eyes just popping or shoots
around half an inch long.
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Post by Cat on Feb 27, 2018 19:37:07 GMT
johnjess you probably havent done anything wrong. Ours haven't started yet and i am not worried. Che and i expect some to take longer than others. We had a moorplace show eyes in 3 days Hillcrest candy 5 days but most of the rest are still asleep on the heat bed. As the best cuttings are in April we are not worried yet. When we panic then you panic 
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Post by johnjess on Feb 28, 2018 19:33:48 GMT
Hi Cat, I'll watch out for your panic posts in a few weeks time!!
By then I'll either (hopefully) have shoots on my Mary's Jomanda or I'll have been on the phone to Halls of Heddon to order some more!!!
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Post by Cat on Feb 28, 2018 22:19:06 GMT
We have gone into que sera sera mode tonight. The weather is what it is and we can't do anything to change it so if the tubers survive they survive. not worth stressing over...she says |
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Post by ian on Mar 9, 2018 14:17:26 GMT
Grasshopper, Cat, Lou, Sue & co In the post this week I received three ground tubers one of the tubers was of a large Pom and two were of a Maroon Small Decorative. The raiser being our sadly missed Jane 'Moonlight' I keep in contact with her Dad and we chew the fat over Dahlias and he said Jane would be thrilled for me to grow them. I intend to grow them to the best of my ability and lets hope they make it and become a lasting tribute to our 'Moonlight'. John tells me the girls are doing very well at school & enjoying their after school Dancing class. I am growing again a few of Johns seedlings that performed very well for me last season so there will be more Medium semi-cactus with the Moonlight prefix. All the very best
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Post by SueA on Mar 10, 2018 9:00:37 GMT
That's lovely ian, I seem to remember Janey being very pleased with the maroon one & it's great that her dad's Moonlight prefix is still carrying on, hope they do well for you.  |
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Post by Lou78W on Mar 10, 2018 9:36:08 GMT
Hear, hear!So pleased to hear the girls are doing well |
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Post by Lou78W on Mar 10, 2018 9:38:29 GMT
I've not got my tubers set up yet as the weather here has been so cold and horrible. I wont be putting the heat on until I get my young plants through from Halls. Hopefully I will get into the greenhouse next week.
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Post by johnjess on Mar 11, 2018 11:03:47 GMT
Hi everyone,
I could do with some advice please. I took my first cuttings of the season yesterday and there is loads of shoots coming now (only two not playing ball) . My question is
we have a weekend away coming up in a couple of weeks time and I'm just wondering how close to that weekend would you risk taking cuttings given that I'll be unable to
mist or keep an eye on the cuttings. If I take a few the weekend before would they have time to establish themselves enough to survive without misting for a couple of days?
Unfortunately I don't have anyone who can do it while I'm away so I'll be having to hope the ones already taken survive while I'm gone.
Thanks
Johnjess
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Post by ian on Mar 22, 2018 12:40:32 GMT
JJ only just seen this post. whether you are going away or not the cuttings will be there so take them as usual put them into moist compost mist them then cover with bubble wrap of plastic sheeting. It is better if the plastic sheet is held a little over the cutting this is easily achieved if the cutting have labels with them. They should be fine like that JJ. There will be a build up of condensation on the plastic that will keep the cuttings turgid. the cuttings should be ok just remove the plastic and turn it over on your return. If I have to do this (recently I have as my mister was frozen a few days) then I turned the sheet each day) David Hall Halls of Heddon root all their cuttings like this with bottom heat of course. Good luck and have a good weekend
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