hardwood cutting/aloe vera/ S/H and kelpmax
 

I have several lovely yellow tea rose cutting for an early Valentines day.
I want to clone them using Aloe Vera as rooting hormone, then place in S/H using the same method as for orchids. Before I rose cut rose stem on an angle 1/2 inch below a same year node, I cut an inch off of the largest part of a mature aloe and put the green but firm rose stem that I scrap/scar with clean knife, into the inch of juicy aloe, and gently cover with Leca.

My question is before I use the Aloe Vera, would it benefit from KelpMax, and if so, how would I use it for either an orchid stem or a rose stem.

I am going to try a couple of rose stems and root them in sand and potting soil in a regular plastic clear pot, holes in the bottom instead of the side of it. I want to try KelpMax before the Aloe but don't know what I am doing as it is new for me.:waving

Could someone please move the above post to the proper forum, I was not sure where it should be. Thanks.

Done... I think it's a better fit in "Off Topic - Totally" where there are discussions about non-orchids.

I am confused. Are you going to make a normal s/h set up with water at the bottom AND a chunk of aloe in the bottom of the reservoir
Or are you using the aloe as the fluid in the s/h setup


I am under the impression that kelpmax is mostly beneficial in and around the roots. If your cutting has no roots I think it would be of limited benefit

Thanks Roberta

DC, I was thinking that I was not clear in my description.

The hardwood cutting is prepared by taking off the thorns and/or scar the tip of the stem and placing it in a cutting of aloe that is about a inch in of aloe that has matured to the size of my thumb. Then putting just the scarred end into that aloe. If I use S/H there would be leca in the bottom of the clear container, The cutting is about 6 to 8 inches in length. and the part in the aloe would be above the two water holes. The leca would cover the cutting keeping it moist to the top of the container. It is then covered with a clear plastic bag to maintain high humidity.

I am wondering if any has ever used Aloe Vera as a rooting hormone, and if so have they had success with cuttings of stem of roses or the stem from an orchid that has been cut after the flowers drop.

I am on my way t0 my favorite volunteer job,
a free legal clinic that has 35 to 50+ pro se clients that receive advice. my job is to interview them and decide which of the attorneys are best suited to see them. It is family, other civil and criminal clients.
I get a little wound up/excited before I arrive at the District Court to set it up and start the paper work and triage the clients.

I am saying this as and excuse for not being very clear in my hardwood..S/H question.

I have never even heard of Aloe vera as a rooting stimulant.

DC is wrong about the KelpMax - if it gets into the plant by any route, it will be effective. That's why complete immersion of orchids with no roots is so effective.

I have no experience rooting roses, but have rooted a few hardwood cuttings with it, but I would immerse them overnight in a 1 ounce-per-gallon solution, and either leave the base sitting in water containing half that amount, or pot them up and keep the medium moist with the 1 TBSP/gal solution.

there you go!

Interesting to try with aloe vera, Early. I've seen numerous articles where folks put the hardwood cutting into a potato. Does it work? Haven't a clue. But appears to be the same principle doesn't it?

Alow for hard/wood cuttings
 

WW, I have never tried the potato method for roses.
I have 4 yellow longstem roses, that I am going to take some phots as I pot them, first soaking in some KelpMax, then putting the scarred ends in the 1 inch of Aloe. I have lots of it and also use it for kitchen burns. and them put them in dirt potting mix. I will try to post some growth in a few weeks.