I have some branch tips (about 6" to 9") that were left over from grafting some Loquats. I want to root them. What methods will work and which one is best?

Specifically,

Will they root in water?

Will they root is Sphagnum Moss?


EDIT/UPDATE

Saturday May 12, 2012

ALL of the tip cuttings are no longer viable. The leaves slowly turned brown. There was no evidence of an attempt to produce roots. This was in water.

I have rooted them under mist with difficulty - maybe 20% success. 6" mature tip cuttings seem to work best. I scar the basal end and used dip & Grow, but I would guess any rooting hormone would do.

Chip grafting, after the weather cools in the fall, works much better than rooting. I have also used a cleft graft with good success. With chip buds I leave the leaf on, but cut it down it to about 1" to 1.5" in length. With cleft grafts, I cover the graft with plastic (using a plastic bag) until it takes, but the chip bud seems to do OK leaving the reduced leaf expose.

they are very difficult to root.

graft 'em

Well the tips I tried to root are slowly turning brown. Which makes me reconsider what I thought I bought. Originally I thought I had bought seedlings but when I saw the thickness of the trunk below ground, the angled cut at the base and the tangled mass of roots I thought they had rooted a branch. I now know that isn't likely or even possible.

SOOOOO

I now believe these were air layered branches that I purchased as seedlings. One thing for sure is they are not seedlings.

I've not heard of people rooting Loquant very much. Loquats are warm weather plants from China which grows very easily from seed, that are planted directly from fresh fruits. Trees used only for ornamental purposes are grown from seed, as are seedlings used as understocks. Improved varieties of loquats, however, are T-budded or whip grafted on seedlings, or grafted on an older tree. Loquats can also be grafted on quince seedlings in order to obtain a dwarf tree. They may also be propagated by air layering, using rooting chemicals on the layered part. Finely cleft grafting is also sometimes used. - Millet (260 B)-)

My best plan at this time is to acquire seeds and plant them. If I plant the seeds soon will they be able to be grafted on next spring?

Yes. I would recommend that. Remember to leave a couple of leaves below the graft and wait till it really starts pushing growth. I've had much greater success like that.

EDIT/UPDATE

Saturday May 12, 2012

ALL of the tip cuttings are no longer viable. The leaves slowly turned brown. There was no evidence of an attempt to produce roots. This was in water.

I'll attempt to continue grafting on the potted trees I have and raise some seedlings for my permanent trees.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.