Monday, April 25, 2016

In a Vase on Monday – the accidental propagator

This won't be your typical "In a Vase on Monday" post, I have no vase creation to share. What I do have however are plants – new plants, baby plants – it's all quite magical! You see I'm no propagation expert, in fact I'd say my skills are subpar, but through putting together Monday vase creations I've discovered many plants are quite easily rooted in water.

Above is my Ludisia discolor, below is a cutting included in a vase creation last February.

And that same cutting now...rooted! This was actually my second go at rooting a piece of this orchid, I'd discovered quite by mistake (when I broke a piece and stuck it in water) how easy they are to root and had purposely taken these cuttings to give to a friend.

These Begonia leaves remain looking good...

From this arrangement done mid-March.

I finally pulled them out of the vase to have a look-see and whad'ya know? Roots!

This Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla leaf...

Which was part of an arrangement back in early January.

Is now a plant. When I dismantled the arrangement I noticed one of the leaves had started to form roots. Instead of tossing it I stuck in the soil of one of the stock tank containers just outside the back door. I gently tugged on it ever so often and it seemed to be strongly planting itself. The other day I potted it up and discovered indeed, it's got two new shoots.

Here's what mamma looks like now...

And what she'll look like this summer when she blooms.


Stachyurus salicifolius

From a Poinsettia Challenge display in December.

Yep it also formed roots and is now potted up and looking for a home (I've got a plant swap coming up next weekend with friends, no doubt I'll have a taker). Here's the mama plant...

Are you getting bored? Sorry. It's just so darn exciting to me that new plants are making themselves while in my care. There's only a couple more, I promise.

This trio was from early March.

The rest of the bunch is long since composted, but the Brachyglottis greyi just kept on looking good.

Yep...

This bit of Passiflora rovirosae never made it into an actual arrangement, it (and a couple of others) was just tucked into a vase that sat on top of the fridge for awhile. It rooted and I potted it up over the winter...

Now we'll see if I can get it to grow up and through this Trachycarpus wagneriensis, won't that be pretty if when it blooms?


My friend Peter has had great luck rooting Begonia luxurians in water...and now I've finally had success...

Lastly I've got a nice crop of χ Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’ ready to be planted out.

They'd been rooting in a vase since Mother Nature broke the top off this plant in a windstorm last winter.

So that's my no vase Monday "In a Vase" post. For those participating with an actual arrangement visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden. And Cathy...thanks for inspiring many of these propagation accidents!

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

47 comments:

  1. Don't you love it?! Many woody plants are even easier than this to root: just poke a bare stick cutting into the ground and leave it for a few months. I did that with hydrangea cuttings and several are now growing. :)

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    1. I guess that's the whole mechanism behind layering...but still seems crazy to me!

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  2. I get the same thrill! Thanks for sharing your magical successes.

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    1. Good to know you're experiencing it too.

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  3. It really is amazing, isn't it! I currently have a bouquet in my husband's bathroom with Heuchera leaves from last November. I've done Begonia in the past but not too much else.

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    1. So are you saying the Heuchera leaves have rooted? That's great!

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  4. How cool is that?!?

    I love my Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’ and have always wanted more. DUH! Your post inspired me to root a few pieces.

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  5. I've got a Desert Willow that I just potted up - my first experiment with vase rooting this plant. We are heading into hot weather, we'll see how it holds up.

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  6. Serendipity! Another reason I should use more foliage in my own arrangements perhaps.

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  7. Loree, it doesn't matter that there is no new vase today because you have shared so many interesting success stories - how exciting! It's only happened a few times with me but who knows what will surprise me in the future! Thanks again Loree

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    1. Hopefully only with plants you want more of. Or know someone who does.

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  8. Wonderful and so many happy accidents. I am always finding weird stuff just coming up in my yard so I love it. I also have a gigantic Blue Agave in my front yard!

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    1. Ah now I'm jealous. While I've had success with many Agaves in the ground here I don't think I'll ever be able to describe one as gigantic.

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  9. I really enjoyed seeing all the plants that rooted from your vases....I too found quite by mistake how much can be rooted and then potted up! Another perk of this meme!

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  10. I love it when floral cuttings root in water! I often put sprigs of mint in an arrangement as filler and for the scent--they ALWAYS root! Trust mint to do that, huh?

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    1. Indeed. I think running over it with a car would make mint root. I do like the idea of adding it for scent, smart!

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  11. Looks like you're a pretty un subpar propagator! You actually remember to refill the water in your vases? Amazing. At my house, we know it's time for them to go when the vase contents become crunchy. Glad you had good luck with the begonia!

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    1. Most of the time I remember...every once and I while I look at the vase and realize I forgot.

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  12. The big question is... what are you going to do with all these babes?

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  13. Thrilling. Do you think the accidental nature of the rooting is causal? :) Maybe my rooting failures are simply because of my intentions....

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  14. So many new plants! Good for you! I do this quite often, too. English Ivy is so, so easy to propagate -- it's another one of those that you can pinch off, stick in a vase for a while (or sometimes just stick in the soil), and it will form a new plant. I don't think I'll ever have to buy a start of it again. I love your vases -- especially the one where the plants form the woman's hat. :)

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    1. I've got another couple of those head vases, perhaps it's time to do another hat arrangement.

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  15. careful it's not just your thumb that is green but your entire hand!

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  16. oooh wow, next you'll need to open up your very own plant boutique with all these babies!

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  17. Fun! It is always exciting when plants root like that. I seem to have much better luck when it's on accident rather than when I'm trying on purpose...

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    1. I guess there is something to Tim's question.

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  18. Fascinating propagation information, Loree, my daughter has one of the Ludisia orchids, I'll have to get a cutting. IaVoM inspired me to take cuttings of my Red Dragon Persicaria last fall and I got 2 new plants out of it. Your January vase is so striking with the red Protea and fantastic foliage.

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    1. Really? None my Persicaria cuttings have rooted...now you've given me a goal.

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  19. The ways of plants are wonderful. Nice to see a run-through of some of your vases again.

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    1. At the nudging of Kris (above) I started a file where I put a photo of each vase creation, it's been fun to go back and look at them.

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  20. Like magic, isn't it? Well done, Loree.

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  21. You're going to be even more popular than usual come swap time.

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    1. I doubt it. Everyone else always brings such treasures.

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  22. I have gotten exactly the same thrill out of rooting cuttings. It seems magical. The plants just want to live! You should try seeds next.

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    1. I planted Zinnia 'Envy' on Sunday...and of course my usual Castor Bean seeds.

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  23. Wow, that's one great reason to stick stuff in a vase!

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    1. Well that and getting to enjoy it in the house.

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  24. You know I love this post. Accidental propagation is the best kind. Well, with plants, anyway. Always a happy surprise, and what you don't want can easily be given to friends.

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