Plantings
A. Rooted Cuttings
Rooted pot mum cuttings should always be planted into moist media.
Planting a pot mum cutting into a dry medium is a sure way to reduce
its initial and future growth.
Plant the rooted cuttings deep enough to cover the roots. With
today's loose and well-drained media, it is actually possible to plant
the rooted cuttings an inch or so deeper into the medium than the point
at which they were rooted. This deeper planting can 1) more securely
anchor the plant, and 2) promote better branching, since only the
softer growth is above the soil line.
In 6" and 6½" pots, rooted cuttings should be planted at a slight
angle toward the outside edge of the pot. This angling allows for more
light to reach the plants later and encourages increased branching
action for fuller pots. Typically, 4 or 5 rooted cuttings are planted
in a 6" or 6½" azalea pot. All of the cuttings are planted near the
edge of the pot, spaced equally apart. No cutting is needed in the
center of the pot.
For 4" or 4½" pots, where a single rooted cutting is used, the cutting is planted straight up in the center of the pot.
Immediately after planting, water the plants in thoroughly with a
fertilizer solution. Liquid fertilizer at planting helps get the plant
off to a vigorous start. A Yoder pot mum cutting is capable of
utilizing liquid fertilizer from the moment it is planted. Use a
complete N-P-K fertilizer such as 20-10-20 at 200 to 300 ppm nitrogen
to water in the cuttings immediately after planting. It is beneficial
to mist or syringe the plants frequently for the first few days, or
until the plants are fully turgid and the roots are absorbing water.
B. Unrooted Cuttings
The planting of unrooted
pot mum cuttings is typically referred to as "sticking." More
specifically, the terminology is "direct stick" or "direct sticking"
into the finishing container. Unrooted cuttings should be stuck into
moist media. The pots should have been filled and moistened before
sticking. The medium should be at or near the top of the container.
Holes can be dibbled into the medium for accurate sticking, or the
cuttings can be stuck without dibble holes.
Before sticking a cutting, the lower leaf should be removed. The
cutting should then be dipped into a 1,500 ppm IBA (indole-3-butyric
acid) solution to foster rapid rooting. The cutting is then stuck
approximately 1½" deep into the medium in the pot.
After sticking the unrooted cuttings into the pots, the cuttings
must be watered in. If the medium is low in nutrients, this watering
should be done with a complete N-P-K fertilizer, such as 20-10-20 at
200 to 300 ppm nitrogen.
With the cuttings stuck and watered in, it is necessary to provide
mist for approximately 10 to 14 days while the cuttings root. Misting
keeps the cuttings turgid and provides moisture while they are rooting.
The duration and frequency of the misting depends on factors such as
light intensity, temperature, humidity, etc. As a general guideline,
mist for 10 seconds every 5 to 10 minutes for the first 3 to 4 days.
Then change to every 20 minutes for the next 3 or 4 days. Reduce the
frequency to every 30 minutes as the cuttings root. The cuttings should
be stressed as little as possible during propagation. However, the
propagator must keep careful watch to be sure the plants are not kept
too wet or the mist continued for too many days; the cuttings may
stretch from too much moisture.