advice on currants cuttings?

Discussion in 'Fruit and Nut Trees' started by xelard, Nov 3, 2013.

  1. xelard

    xelard New Member

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    House And Garden, Israel
    Last July we took 2 cuttings from our high-yield currants bush in Mich. and brought them on our sabbatical to Israel in the bush's own soil. Each of the 2 inch cuttings sprouted a leaf, and then all stopped, regardless of direct/indirect sunlight, length of sun, moderate/excess water criteria. Though the original bush is getting watered by rains only, and is exposed to plenty of sunlight.
    Since July the cuttings appear to have very slowly produced bud-like growths on their stems, visible in the attached pictures. I replanted them in the local soil, noticing that each had put out only a single thin root thread. The plants are in plenty of indirect sunlight, and get plenty of water. The progress is not there, nor do the plants die. Any ideas regarding stimulating their growth?
    Thanks.
     

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  2. JocelynPEI

    JocelynPEI New Member

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    They appear to have set dormant buds which is good. Did I understand that they are now growing in Israel? Do they get enough chill hours to know winter has passed and it's time to grow? How about the winter just past or present? I don't know about the climate in Israel. Can you say more about that climate?

    Jocelyn, Canada
     
  3. xelard

    xelard New Member

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    the summers are very dry and moderately hot, while the autumn means increasing humidity, with rains late december, eventually reaching down to 40 F. Indoors the temps are about 70-74, but in the northern window sill the plantings are exposed probably 55-60 F.
    The cuttings have not felt any chill or freezing temps, as their source plant surely has in the Midwestern January bitter cold wave. What is still puzzling is their state of frozen growth, still looking the same as in the photo, ever since their cutting during the warm and humid Midwestern August.
    Another possibility or a question is after noticing kinds of white wriggly earth mites, or lice, is it possible that they prospered in the wet soil and munched on the feeble roots? Maybe take the cuttings out and clean them off the mixed soil, and replant the two cuttings in the totally bug-free local soil?
    thank you for replying.
     
  4. JocelynPEI

    JocelynPEI New Member

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    It is more likely that they have not been cold enough for long enough. Can you put the pots in the refridgerator? They need about 3 months at 34 to 36 degrees F before they will wake up. 50 to 55 is not cold enough. I don't know anything about the little white bugs. Since the cuttings are dormant, you could repot in clean soil, or just clean off all soil and wrap the roots in damp leaves or damp moss and pop them in a plastic bag in the refridgerator before potting up in clean soil when their cold nap is up.
     

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