Introduction: SI have had less than optimal success rates with rooting cuttings of apple rootstock (25%) and roses (5%) (they were not well cared for, just carefully planted and then watered, and then we were unexpectedly away for two weeks and they were in full sun the whole time). So I wanted to find a way to increase rooting success, even under adverse conditions without using toxic (and not approved for organic use) products like chemical rooting hormones. At the same time, I had planted some sage cuttings and 95% of them had rooted, which gave me the idea to try to use Sage (Salvia ssp.) cuttings as rooting stimulants for other types of cuttings. To choose what types of cuttings to test, I developed a guide to ease of rooting in some plants that I had taken cuttings of and rooted (sometimes unsuccessfully). I have found it useful for recording results and finding ways to fine tune my methods. You can view the results in Rootability.

Hypothesis: Given that Sage (Salvia ssp.) cuttings root extremely well, they must have high levels of rooting hormones. Given that rooting hormones are used to facilitate rooting for plants that are harder to root, mixing cuttings of Sage and other plants should increase the root formation and hence propagation success for the other plants without adversely affecting the Sage's own survival.

Materials:

-5 2mX2m squares of equivalent soil and nutrient levels

-__Sage cuttings

-__apple root stock cuttings

-__rose (non-rootstock) cuttings

-shovels, watering cans, clippers etc.

Method:

1.Plant 1 square with sage cuttings, plant 1 square with apple root stock cuttings, plant 1 square with rose cuttings, plant 1 square with apple rootstock and sage cuttings intermixed, plant 1 square with rose and sage cuttings intermixed. Water until soil damp but not pooling.

2.Keep evenly moist for 1 week.

3.Examine a few random cutting from each square (just a few since to examine them you have to remove them from the soil which will probably kill the cuttings). Make detailed notes as to root formation in each square.

4.Keep evenly moist for another week

5.Examine a few random cutting from each square (just a few since to examine them you have to remove them from the soil which will probably kill the cuttings). Make detailed notes as to root formation in each square.

6.Keep evenly moist for another week

7.Examine a few random cutting from each square (just a few since to examine them you have to remove them from the soil which will probably kill the cuttings). Make detailed notes as to root formation in each square.

8.Keep evenly moist for another week

9.Examine a few random cutting from each square (just a few since to examine them you have to remove them from the soil which will probably kill the cuttings). Make detailed notes as to root formation in each square.

10.The cuttings have now had a full month to root and any that will root should have rooted by now. Carefully count how many of each type of cutting survived.

Results: Unfortunately this experiment requires either spring weather or a greenhouse so it is "in process"; probably won't be able to actually start it until mid May.

Conclusion: Waiting tabulation of results when experiment completed.