Some ideas are so simple. I am wondering if this simple idea is one that everyone knew about except me?
It’s such an easy thing to do, and saves a lot of space.
It’s a “cutting in a bag”.
I had never seen this before until this Saturday when I went to the African violet show.
The grower had several cuttings in plastic bags for sale. He said he roots new plants like this all the time.
You put some potting soil in a Ziploc-type baggie, wet it down, add the cutting, seal it up and hang it up some place where it can get some light.
Once you start to see roots on the cutting, it is ready to pot it up into a regular pot.
It seems so simple. I know I’m the last gardener to find out about this.
I’ve always rooted cuttings this way.
These are the 13 African violet leaf cuttings I started awhile back. I put them in a container or small flat, then put that in a plastic bag.
I can’t see the roots, but by tugging a bit on these cuttings, I can tell they are indeed rooting.
Next time, I’m using the ‘cutting in a bag’ method. It is gardening genius.
I wonder if you can start seeds in a bag like this?
Am I the last to know about this?
I sure didn’t know about this so you aren’t the only one that didn’t know about this method of starting cuttings. I have transported cuttings I wanted to start but just using the bag. It make makes sense to do it this way.
No, you’re not the last to know! I didn’t either. And I didn’t even know about the way you do violets. I just break off a leaf and stick it in the pot. 3 out of 5 make it for me that way…yours or the bag sounds much better!
We are going to have to do something about these word verifications! Some are soooo hard to read! Why do they have to use such indecipherable fonts!?
That is a brilliant idea. You know what they say, the simpliest ideas are often the best. PS. I’d never heard of doing that either.
Now I’m last in the list 🙂 What a great idea. I’ve been wanting an african violet…or two (had a good laugh at the african violet post below). When I do get a plant I’ll have to try this out just for fun.
I didn’t know about this either… thanks for sharing the tip. With some seeds, I suspect it would work. But which ones? I haven’t a clue … I hope someone will let us all know who happens upon this post.
OK. Now I’m last.
Great idea! Of course, my history with African Violets isn’t the best…..
Last poster gets to be last on the list? I’m in! I am like Lisa, have kept the cutting in a bag, sometimes wrapped in a wet paper towel until I got home, then into a pot, then the pot in a bag! Let’s just eliminate the pot! Thanks for the idea. What are you doing up so early/late? I saw a comment timed at one something in the morning. You okay?
Frances at Faire Garden
Add me to the list of gardeners who never heard of this before. Thanks for posting this tip. I can’t wait to try it out.
Jan Always Growing
I think I read about doing African violets in a bag, but not hanging it up in the light. And African violets are particularly easy to root; I’m not sure it would work with everything. People stratify seeds in bags, but then pot them on after they germinate.
Carol,
Yup, you can do this with seed too! Works great. Especially for those that need a little more heat, like peppers, because you can hang them wherever it’s warmest. (most people put them on top of fridge, cable box, water heater etc) My bags get situated near the register, hung on the wall with a tack or clip or something. I use it for my martagons as they need a heat/cool stage and the bags get popped into the crisper drawer of the fridge after the warm germ.
Maybe you should try presprouting your peas this way this year. That way, you’ll only plant the good ones and have no gaps for ones that don’t germ – saves me tons of space. Works fab for daylily seed, roses -cuttings and seed- too. Ok, it works great for any seed!
Happy sprouting!
Never heard of doing it that way, but I sure will be trying it. Capital idea! Thanks for sharing it.
Linda
Wow, I didn’t know this either. I will try this method in the future. Don’t you just love learning new things especially when they are so simple :). Thanks for sharing!
Yup, works for seeds too. I use this method to start Rose seeds!
For african violets, I just stick the end of a leaf in water untill I see roots then pot them up.
Wow! Don’t you hate it when you think you know it all…and then something this simple comes along. I will definitely be trying it!
Ooops, Carol. I did. A friend in Maryland has been doing this for ages. She gave handed me a zip-loc baggie once full of moist soil and a cutting from a jade plant or something from her kitchen. It worked! Maybe us non-gardening people know more than we think !
Well, I didn’t know this either. This may be something I can actually do!
Gail
I heard someone talking about rooting things in a ziplock bag just last week! How simple and how smart is that . . . I tend to let my cuttings dry out – maybe this will help
Nope, I didn’t know this either. There is so much to know about gardening that you are always learning new things. Thanks for sharing this titbit!
I’ve had success with sweet pea seeds wrapped in a moist paper towel, then ziplocked and put in a warm place. After they sprout, pot them up.
The hard part is remembering they are on top of the hot water heater…
News to me, so thanks for sharing. I’m going to try a scaled up version of this when I get my seed potatoes. Someone told me to put a couple of pieces into a black garbage bag with a little dirt. Then nail the top of the bag to the fencepost and gradually add soil as the vines grow. By the time the bag is full and vines die back, you have a pre-bagged harvest.
All, thanks for the comments and for making sure I wasn’t the “last to know” and for Tina, Nickie and Mary, you are in the minority but in the know, for sure!
I’m going to try more cuttings and seeds in plastic bags this spring. Should be fun.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
I had never heard of that..what a great idea! I also was unaware how quickly they root from just sticking the stem in water! Plant continue to amaze me….
Nice work!
Reminds me of this professor who works on growing things in the desert –
http://containergardening.wordpress.com/great-ideas-for-container-gardening/
If you like the idea of growing food in the city, follow me………
.
.
.
.
.
A few of us who live in the city of Chicago are growing heirloom vegetables on our rooftops in cheap homemade earthboxes. In response to huge environmental problems, it’s a small but rewarding way to push back. Also, we think they’re a great way to build connections in a fragmented social/political landscape.
Here’s the Flickr link, alongside the pics is a little how-to guide with plenty of relevant links.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7458996@N06/sets/72157603652656573/
The last link didn’t take. Try this –
Here’s the .
Aargh!
Here’s the
Proof that I am not a robot sent here to spam your site.
Who knew?
I would, however, worry about those tender and hairy leaves.
My new cuttings are really coming along. I should post photos soon.
Robin at Bumblebee
Well, hey, this is brilliant! I'm always rooting things in little 4" pots, then putting the POTS in little plastic Ziploc bags. That works great, because they're freestanding, but I LOVE how you can see the roots beginning to develop in the baggie method! Fabulous!
I found you through someone else's Pin, and I'm a new follower! I write a humor blog, but I did write a recent post about my strange plant fetish that you'd probably really enjoy! Stop by and check it out if you have the time at Misadventures in Motherhood. I'd love for you to drop by!
Happy Easter!
Smiles, Jenn