Posted by Jeff Layman on July 30, 2011, 3:50 pm
Watching cuttings being taken on GW last night, and hearing the usual
advice to "cut the last pair of leaves in half if they are too big" for
the umpteenth time over many years made me think.
Why not simply cut one leaf off through its stalk rather than cut two
leaves in half? It would be a lot simpler, as other leaves lower down
would already have been removed in that fashion. Surely it would also
reduce stress for the cutting as it would lead to less water loss, and
give the advantage that a much smaller cut area would be far less prone
to suffer from fungal infections.
--
Jeff
Posted by Pam Moore on July 30, 2011, 5:47 pm
On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:50:01 +0100, Jeff Layman
>Watching cuttings being taken on GW last night, and hearing the usual
>advice to "cut the last pair of leaves in half if they are too big" for
>the umpteenth time over many years made me think.
>Why not simply cut one leaf off through its stalk rather than cut two
>leaves in half? It would be a lot simpler, as other leaves lower down
>would already have been removed in that fashion. Surely it would also
>reduce stress for the cutting as it would lead to less water loss, and
>give the advantage that a much smaller cut area would be far less prone
>to suffer from fungal infections.
Jeff, we'll await the results of your experiments!
Pam in Bristol
Posted by Jeff Layman on July 31, 2011, 2:03 pm
On 30/07/2011 22:47, Pam Moore wrote:
> On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:50:01 +0100, Jeff Layman
>> Watching cuttings being taken on GW last night, and hearing the usual
>> advice to "cut the last pair of leaves in half if they are too big" for
>> the umpteenth time over many years made me think.
>>
>> Why not simply cut one leaf off through its stalk rather than cut two
>> leaves in half? It would be a lot simpler, as other leaves lower down
>> would already have been removed in that fashion. Surely it would also
>> reduce stress for the cutting as it would lead to less water loss, and
>> give the advantage that a much smaller cut area would be far less prone
>> to suffer from fungal infections.
> Jeff, we'll await the results of your experiments!
I only take cuttings of cacti and succulents. No leaves to worry
about... ;-))
Well, not quite true. But I'm not very good at getting cuttings to
root, and I was just intrigued by this advice. Next time I try I'll
divide the cuttings into cut leaves and single leaves. Maybe others
here can also try and report back their experience, although maybe
Charlie P. has already answered the point.
--
Jeff
Posted by Bob Hobden on July 30, 2011, 6:33 pm
"Jeff Layman" wrote
Watching cuttings being taken on GW last night, and hearing the usual
advice to "cut the last pair of leaves in half if they are too big" for
the umpteenth time over many years made me think.
Why not simply cut one leaf off through its stalk rather than cut two
leaves in half? It would be a lot simpler, as other leaves lower down
would already have been removed in that fashion. Surely it would also
reduce stress for the cutting as it would lead to less water loss, and
give the advantage that a much smaller cut area would be far less prone
to suffer from fungal infections.
---------------------------
I've never cut a leaf of a cutting in half, they either stay or are removed.
-- Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK
Posted by Martin on July 31, 2011, 3:51 am
wrote:
>"Jeff Layman" wrote
>Watching cuttings being taken on GW last night, and hearing the usual
>advice to "cut the last pair of leaves in half if they are too big" for
>the umpteenth time over many years made me think.
>Why not simply cut one leaf off through its stalk rather than cut two
>leaves in half? It would be a lot simpler, as other leaves lower down
>would already have been removed in that fashion. Surely it would also
>reduce stress for the cutting as it would lead to less water loss, and
>give the advantage that a much smaller cut area would be far less prone
>to suffer from fungal infections.
>---------------------------
>I've never cut a leaf of a cutting in half, they either stay or are removed.
Also counting six rather than five or seven when pruning wisteria.
Based on scientific fact or pure whimsy?
--
Martin
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>advice to "cut the last pair of leaves in half if they are too big" for
>the umpteenth time over many years made me think.
>Why not simply cut one leaf off through its stalk rather than cut two
>leaves in half? It would be a lot simpler, as other leaves lower down
>would already have been removed in that fashion. Surely it would also
>reduce stress for the cutting as it would lead to less water loss, and
>give the advantage that a much smaller cut area would be far less prone
>to suffer from fungal infections.