-=> Quoting Rob Pringle to Marilyn Boissoneault <=-
RP> So far, so good. Use a (I believe) very loose soil mix.  Yes, once
RP> you have them potted - just water them for the first week or so -
RP> let them develop proper soil roots - but fertalize after that with
RP> your favorite fertalizer diluted to about 1/4 of what it should be
RP> so as not to burn the roots.  If you mix the fertalizer into the
RP> water for daily use, reduce the concentration to 1/8th.  I don't
RP> know what Miracle Grow is - but any balanced fertalizer such as
RP> 20-20-20 will do the trick.
I tried the fertilizer at a weak dosage as you recommended and so
far so good on that.
RP> Stem cutting for impatiens - they work very well on the soft part
RP> of the stem.  Almost anything can be grown from cuttings though
RP> there are some variations.  Very soft stemmed plants are easy, but
RP> some harder woody plants work slightly better using a rooting
RP> hormone. Certain plants will root from stems only, others may root
RP> from the leaf stem.  (african violets, for example).
I guess I need to experiment more with this and see what I can
do.  Are you saying you don't need the rooting hormone for soft
stemmed cuttings?
RP> One thing is it's often easier to root certain plants in soil
RP> instead of starting them in water.  The transition from water to
RP> soil has some additional hazards.  But - make sure the soil you use
RP> has been properly steralized. (Actually - pasturized - not
RP> steralized). 
I have heard that before that it's better to not root in water
first because of problems with the transition.  That's why I'm
trying to learn how to root in soil. It seems so much easier to
stick something in water to root, but then like you said they
don't always make the transition....so hopefully I'll master this
rooting in soil. I certainly appreciate your help.
Marilyn
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