My cuttings are turning yellow but there are no roots yet!

[mihkale]

Hey there! Im propogating my Philodendron hope and my Monstera in sphagnum moss, but sadly... the leaves are turning yellow. Ive seen many threads saying that its just because the old leaves are getting replaced with new ones, but i had just cut them. Some are saying its because they are rooting, again i had just cut them. Why are they turning yellow? I'm currently giving then bright indirect sunlight in my room, and im getting my hopes up. They seem to be getting more yellow each day.

 

[Star Dog]

What did you feed them?
To my knowledge moss has next to no nutrient.

 

[Renfro]

The cuttings use mobile nutrients stored in the leaves to promote new growth (including roots). You can give them a light foliar feed to help get through rooting. If the yellowing happens really badly or too soon then you may have too much light intensity for rooting clones.

 

[Star Dog]

Never heard of not feeding cuttings, you're trying to promote growth not hinder it.
I'm not suggesting you're wrong I've just never known of that?
To me it's logical if they are using mobile nutrient then it's diminising and needs replacing.

Peace

 

[Renfro]

Never heard of not feeding cuttings, you're trying to promote growth not hinder it.
I'm not suggesting you're wrong I've just never known of that?
To me it's logical if they are using mobile nutrient then it's diminising and needs replacing.

Peace

I have found that feeding cuttings doesn't encourage roots to form. Once you have roots then start a light feed. Plain h2o is all I give cuttings until they have roots.

 

[Mirrordawn]

I have found that feeding cuttings doesn't encourage roots to form. Once you have roots then start a light feed. Plain h2o is all I give cuttings until they have roots.

Things tend to go less wrong when you feed only clean water In my experience

 

[Star Dog]

Things tend to go less wrong when you feed only clean water In my experience

That's also been my experience, I did try it with seedling after hearing something similar namely the seed has sufficient food for roots and leaves, erm maybe a tap root and cotledons then they need food, evolution has driven them to search it out, my seedlings looked sh1t for a period after.

 

[Mirrordawn]

That's also been my experience, I did try it with seedling after hearing something similar namely the seed has sufficient food for roots and leave, erm maybe a tap root and cotledons then they need food, evolution has driven them to search it out.

I guess ....
See weed is easy, you can fuck it up pretty badly and still have your cuttings root. But when you're working with things like Monstera's and things that don't deal that well with shock compared to weed. So when you add nutes to that equation, your success rates go down (especially if you're not experienced).

The worst thing that can happen with just using clean water is 1) you don't use enough(or wayyyyyy too much) 2) use it for an over extended time to the point where the plants starts showing deficiencies. However that is something you can fix, which is a lot easier to fix than a plant that has been over fed during the rooting stage.

 

[myke]

Your mom or the plant u cut them from is not healthy,get that fixed and try again.Clones will yellow 7-10 days after cut but ime they should stay green if the mom is healthy.
As said too much light is also a common mistake

 

[WattSaver]

You can't use straight sphagnum moss. It wants water more than your plant and will suck the moisture out of your plant and win I've had this problem using peat moss with seedlings many yrs ago and will not use it again. Transplant up and fill with good potting soil, the root s will get into the soil and things will change.

 

[StareCase]

... You can't use straight sphagnum moss. It wants water more than your plant and will suck the moisture out of your plant and win I've had this problem using peat moss with seedlings many yrs ago and will not use it again ...

Disagree. I've had seedlings sprouting and clones rooting great in straight Pro-Mix - pretty much sphagnum peat, perlite and a dash of lime.

Water is fine for cloning. No need for any feed yet. Humid and warm will give your clones what they need until they've rooted.

 

[davethepothead]

Disagree. I've had seedlings sprouting and clones rooting great in straight Pro-Mix - pretty much sphagnum peat, perlite and a dash of lime.

Water is fine for cloning. No need for any feed yet. Humid and warm will give your clones what they need until they've rooted.

This guy helped me get my lil ones going can’t say he knows it all but swung through my clone thread and has helped allot.

 

[Star Dog]

I don't doubt what you guys are saying regarding feed, out of curiosity I will try just water with one clone.

This is how I root my clones with 90/95% success rate using 1.5" rock wool cubes. (no tray for the first 24 hours)
Ec/cf 0.8 pH 5.8 of plant start or formulex, soak the rock wool cubes then take the cuttings, a bit root gel and in they go.
If I don't soak the rock wool they go back the way to begin with, as in immediately after taking the top will wilt over a bit if there not soaked (not dripping wet) for the 1st 24 hrs, after 24 hrs the cube has dried out to at least half but the stem has hardened so you have next to no wilt and straight stems.

After the 24 hrs I put them into the rw cube trays then only just keep them damp by using a syringe.
Temp 23/24c using 4x T5,s

I got it down to the point I was confident only taking one clone, iirc correctly roots 6/9 days, I don't mean rooted but the basal has formed along with the beginnings of root tips.

 

[StareCase]

... This guy helped me get my lil ones going can’t say he knows it all but swung through my clone thread and has helped allot ...

Thanks for the kudo. Trial and error has been my best teacher - I am sure others here on RIU will attest to that. Here's hoping that your clones yield you many ounces of sparkling stinky dank.