"Avoid cutting losses by prioritizing sticking"

Lower leaf yellowing and senescence of problematic species can be reduced or prevented by prioritizing sticking and updating your cultural procedures.

by Roberto G. Lopez - rglopez@msu.edu




Figure 1A and B. Lower leaf yellowing and poor rooting in dahlia can be an indication of ethylene and extreme temperature stress during shipping. Dahlia is a first priority species for sticking and benefits from rooting hormones.

As shipments of cuttings are now arriving weekly, we are beginning to see poor rooting, lower and upper leaf yellowing and senescence, and ultimately losses of some problematic species (Figs. 1A, 2, 3, 4, and 5) during propagation. Lower leaf yellowing is most often a sign of ethylene or temperature stress and/ or low carbohydrate levels during shipping and storage (For more information on how to reduce geranium lower-leaf yellowing view e-GRO Alert 3:14; https://e-gro.org/pdf/3-14.pdf) and upper leaf yellowing is a symptom of micronutrient deficiencies during propagation. Although you may not know what environmental stresses the cuttings experienced prior to you receiving them, there are several cultural procedures such as the use of a rooting hormone that can help reduce losses. Therefore, we will review the procedures on how to prepare for, prioritize, and handle cutting shipments to improve rooting success.


Figure 2. Thunbergia is a first priority species and should be stuck immediately. It is slow to root, requires a higher mist frequency and rooting hormone.

Boxes containing cuttings should be opened immediately and inspected for quality (e.g., appropriate length, caliper, leaf number and size), proper labeling and quantity, noticeable signs of damage, stress, disease or insects, and you should determine the cutting and box temperature with a temperature probe or infrared thermometer (Fig. 6). Cuttings should be removed from the box to cool as quickly as possible, especially if the temperature of the cuttings is greater than 68 ºF or the shipment has been in transit and delayed for more than 48 hours.


Figure 3. Lobularia is a second priority species and should be stuck the same day of arrival. Inadequate misting can cause leaf yellowing. Apply a fungicide spray to protect from Botrytis.

Sticking priority of herbaceous annual and perennial unrooted cuttings is generally categorized as first (high), second, third, and fourth (low) priority species. This categorization is based primarily on sensitivity to ethylene or temperature extremes during shipping or storage, difficulty in rooting, or susceptibility to desiccation due to leaf size (Fig. 7).


Figure 4. Geranium cuttings have a short post- harvest life and low tolerance to high temperatures during shipping or prolonged shipping or storage.

First-priority species
First-priority species are those that are sensitive to ethylene and temperature extremes. They are immediately taken out of packaging, stuck, and placed in the greenhouse within 4 hours of arrival. These species include: agastache, dahlia, crossandra, zonal and ivy geranium, heliotro pe, hybrid euphorbia, lantana, lavender, lobelia, portulaca (purslane), sweet potato, thunbergia, and wallflower. If you cannot stick these species the same day, unpack them and store under the appropriate temperatures.


Figure 5. Euphorbia is a first priority species and should be stuck immediately. It requires an average mist frequency.

Second-priority species
Second-priority species include artemesia, bacopa, begonia, calibrachoa, coleus, diascia, erysimum, evolvulus, fuchsia, double impatiens, lobularia, nemesia, osteospermum, petunia, salvia, verbena, and viola. These species should be stuck on the day of arrival to avoid losses.


Figure 6. The temperature of a box containing cuttings is being measured.

Third-priority species
Third-priority species should be propagated within 24 hour of arrival. These include: ageratum, alternanthera, angelonia, argyranthemum, bidens, bracteantha, cuphea, garden phlox, helichrysum, impatiens, New Guinea impatiens, lamium, lithodora, mandevilla, multi-species, poinsettia, scaevola, straw flower, torenia, and yarrow. Fourth or low-priority species should be propagated within 48 hour of arrival.


Figure 7. This grower has a cutting handling priority list on their cooler.

When cuttings are not or cannot be stuck upon arrival, they should be taken out of the box and placed on shelves in a cooler at a high relative humidity, e.g., 80 to 95% (Fig. 8). For cold-tolerant species, such as geranium and petunia, the temperature set point in the cooler should be between 41 to 50 ºF (5 to 10 ºC). Chilling-sensitive species, such as impatiens and poinsettia, should be placed at 50 to 59 ºF (10 to 15 ºC).

Other tips to reduce losses
Rooting hormones are not required for the majority of unrooted cuttings, although difficult- or slow-to-root species and cultivars are often treated with stem or foliar rooting hormones to improve the uniformity of root initiation or to improve the rooting percentage (Fig. 1B). The recommended concentration for stem and foliar application will vary by species. Examples of species that receive rooting hormone treatments include: bracteantha, calibrachoa, crossandra, dahlia, gazania, heliotrope, hibiscus, lobelia, mandevilla, osteospermum, salvia, and thunbergia. Dipping the stem into a liquid or powder formulation of IBA is the most common approach. Stem application rates of IBA range from 500 to 3000 ppm. Foliar application of IBA to newly stuck cuttings can also promote rooting, while reducing the time and labor required for dipping cuttings. Foliar application rates of IBA range from 50 to 500 ppm. The potassium- salt formulation of IBA is often used for foliar applications as it is water soluble, and therefore causes less foliar damage compared to alcohol-soluble formulations.

Source: e-GRO