Just for fun, I threw a small clipping (6 leaves) in a 2.5 " pot, placed it on top of papertowel I had moistened at the bottom of a 2L bottle I cut 3" from the bottom. I then put the top of the bottle over top. I would either take the cap off to ventilate or just take it off when I saw too much condensation inside.

It's been there for over 6 weeks, didn't lose one leaf, they are still green and lush, and to my suprise, it looks like the tiny thing is going to flower!!! It has three tiny round flowers coming out. Now I am curious to see them open, but given it sooo small, should I remove them now? I'd have to use tweezers at this point.


Anyways, I am very proud lol

A picture would be worth a thousand words! I hope it will get established for you!

Regards,

Joe

Yes, definately post a picture. I would love to see it and I am sure many others also.

Thanks

How cool is that, you have every right to be proud and excited!!! Congratulations are in order!

Here are some pics. The bottle one turned out somber, it's overcast right now.

The bottle

Top off

Close-up

Closer-up (We can see flowers)



Still no advice on whether I should remove the flowers or not?

I would remove the flowers if it were me. Doesn't look like there has been any new leaf growth yet and that's what I'd want the plant's energy to go into.

.....Alan.

I am impressed!!!!! I can't believe it is trying to fruit! Incredible

that is super cute, and effective! I want to look at my babie's roots so bad. I know I have to wait! I should have used a clear planter!

Weather you remove the flower or not, it will not set fruit. About the top of the bottle. It looks like you cut it about two or three inches above the bottom. Does the top now fit inside the bottom when you place it over the plant? - Millet

Thanks Joan, I was just giving it a shot for the hell of it. As Garnet says, it seems to be a super effective method, 100% lol

Millet, it's the opposite, I just squeeze the bottom in a bit and it's the top that fits over the bottom.

Actually Cals set fruit quite easy. Being it is a rooted cutting it may well keep the fruit. I have had a few I rooted fruit within a few months of rooting.

If it was a seedling it would not keep the fruit.

Hello all,

Well looking at the date I started this thread, I can't believe it was all the way in June!! Here's an update, as if there's much to tell (frustrating part). I look at the pics I posted above, and it looks today THE SAME minus one leaf, it fell maybe in August. All other leaves are there and green, still floppy like in the pic in june. I removed the flowers I was asking about, and since then it has given me three more that I let bloom. Pathetic lil' things. It has yet to do anything else, not even one measly new leaf. When I smell the blooms, (it has one now actually) I do detect a musty odour. I am thinking it's root rot, but it's smelled like that for over a month, I rarely water (i mean I can go for 2-3 weeks), and the thing still is producing flowers...???If this was root rot, this thing should be dying, but it's not. It's just pathetic and static.

Now my question is simple: What the heck is going on here?? I mean, die or do something already.

Any clues?

Only one of mine got enough attention to live, a thai lime cutting.

It looked pathetic, was under lights for a long time, and i finally decided to move it to the back porch (afternoon sunlight) and see if it sank or swam..... it did start putting out new leaves. just a few, and when i repotted it, it has a decent root system (bigger than the leaves)

Yours could just be developing new roots.

What kind of light is it getting? if its shaded for protection, it just may not be getting enough light to flourish yet.

Good luck!

One reaction to plants under stress is that they will often bloom - sometimes even when they are dying. That does not mean yours is dying, the very act of cutting off a stem, and forcing it to live without roots for a while, is big time stress for the cutting.

If you think there may be some roots, I would just treat it like any other small rooted plant. Don't overwater or underwater and hope it hangs in there until spring. (sounds like that is what you are doing). If it tries to set fruit, remove them. Sometime a little cutting like that will bounce back and do fine, right when you think it is a goner. If it dies, there is always next spring!

Ned

Hi Garnetmoth,

Throughout the summer, I eased it into being in full sun, on humid days I'd remove the top portion of the bottle, but would put it back at night. I didn't leave it out over night though (ok maybe once by accident), cause the terra cota pot would make the soil too cold at night.

Since mid Aug, we've had unseasonably cool days, so I would keep it inside by the southern facing window. On days I deemed ok, it went out in a sun beam.

For the last few weeks, it's been almost exclusively inside by the window, and now I have moved it under the full spectrum grow lights with my three seedlings. Today though, it went out in the sun, we had a indian summer-like day I guess you can say.


Should I take it out of the pot and check it's roots cause of the musty smell? And then maybe repot? It's pot it ridiculously small (2 1/2" tall by 3" wide at the top, it tappers in towards the bottom) .