Transplanting cuttings

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jmoney
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Transplanting cuttings

Post by jmoney »

I am wondering if my cuttings can be planted outside yet. They have been in pots for about 4 months.

The reason I am asking is because I got a peek at one of my cactus cutting's roots recently. The cutting was loose and leaning in the pot so I picked up the pot to try and shore it up, then the cutting fell over in the soil revealing its newly formed roots.

The roots are not very extensive maybe measuring between 3-4 inches long, looks like it may be a taproot. It has not set off any offsets yet. All 5 of my cuttings seem to be doing quite well with no rot or other issues.

How long should I wait? Do I really need to wait for the cuttings to put out offsets (as others here have suggested)? Should I wait for more roots/longer roots before transplanting outside?

The cuttings already sit in my patio and get a few hours of sunlight through the screen porch every day so I am not to worried about sun exposure.
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esp_imaging
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Re: Transplanting cuttings

Post by esp_imaging »

You haven't said what your cuttings are, so it's hard to say, but if they are happy in pots why not leave alone for now?
They are probably still growing at the moment, so let them get a bit more established without disturbance, and transplant them at the start of spring when they will have the full year to get going.
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jmoney
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Re: Transplanting cuttings

Post by jmoney »

These are the cuttings.

Opuntia humifusa
IMG_20150607_153450.jpg
IMG_20150607_153450.jpg (49.22 KiB) Viewed 2353 times
Opuntia ficus indica
IMG_20150607_153557.jpg
IMG_20150607_153557.jpg (27.31 KiB) Viewed 2353 times
Myrtillocactus geometrizans
IMG_20150607_153646.jpg
IMG_20150607_153646.jpg (35.34 KiB) Viewed 2353 times
Cereus peruvianus?
IMG_20150607_153730.jpg
IMG_20150607_153730.jpg (36.99 KiB) Viewed 2353 times
Pilosocereus pachycladus?
IMG_20150607_153903.jpg
IMG_20150607_153903.jpg (42.59 KiB) Viewed 2353 times
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cactushobbyman
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Re: Transplanting cuttings

Post by cactushobbyman »

If you have a long growing season you could place outside, but why not wait until spring. More roots and a new long growing season. :)
jmoney
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Re: Transplanting cuttings

Post by jmoney »

cactushobbyman wrote:If you have a long growing season you could place outside, but why not wait until spring. More roots and a new long growing season. :)
I'm still a novice so I'm not sure how long the "growing season" is here in Central Florida. I'm still on the fence about what to do. I think I'm gonna check out the roots and go from there.
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Re: Transplanting cuttings

Post by jmoney »

Fortunately, this long weekend I put the cutting in the ground outside and all had a spectacular root system except for the Myrtillocactus geometrizans, which can be seen further up in the string. I put that particular cutting outside anyways and I am now just hoping that the roots develop some more. If not, I'll just take it out, create a fresh cut and start over.
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7george
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Re: Transplanting cuttings

Post by 7george »

I put away the hardiness aspect of growing those plants outside, you should check this first deciding to grow them outside. But if you are in doubt about roots' ability to support the plant in an open ground you can put temporary some rocks or sticks, line around these. Especially if dander of blowing it by wind, kicking or tipping by animals exists.
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