MB>RP> Stem cutting for impatiens - they work very well on the soft part
MB>RP> of the stem.  Almost anything can be grown from cuttings though
MB>RP> there are some variations.  Very soft stemmed plants are easy, but
MB>RP> some harder woody plants work slightly better using a rooting
MB>RP> hormone. Certain plants will root from stems only, others may root
MB>RP> from the leaf stem.  (african violets, for example).
MB>I guess I need to experiment more with this and see what I can
MB>do.  Are you saying you don't need the rooting hormone for soft
MB>stemmed cuttings?
    It's something I have not even tried - as I had almost 100% success
    rooting impatiens without hormone, but that was long before I even
    knew about rooting hormones.  I use them all the time with the
    african violet leaves - but I can honestly say I don't know if it
    makes all that great a difference.  I suspect it does.
MB>I have heard that before that it's better to not root in water
MB>first because of problems with the transition.  That's why I'm
MB>trying to learn how to root in soil. It seems so much easier to
MB>stick something in water to root, but then like you said they
MB>don't always make the transition....so hopefully I'll master this
MB>rooting in soil. I certainly appreciate your help.
   Actually I use a very light "soiless" mixture for all my rooting (and
   indeed most of my growing - but thats another story).
   One such mixture might go like this.  (Borrowed from "Growing to
   Show" by Pauline Bartholomew).
   6 2/3 cups of peat moss
   5 1/3 cups of perlite
   4     cups of vermiculite
   1 Tbs superphospate (only for rooted plants, I think)
   2     cups of dolomite lime
   2     cups of water
    After mixing put this in a plastic bag and allow it to sit for about
    two weeks so the lime has a chance to work.  Notice - there is
    absolutely no soil in this mixture.
    Exact proportions are not particularly critical.  This mixture
    should be just about right for plants that grow in a slightly acedic
    "soil", such as african violets.  I think every grower has their own
    favorite mixture.  The important part for rooting is it must be
    "light" in texture.
    As far as comparing rooting in water, and rooting in soil - I think
    a lot depends on the plant.  When I was rooting the impatiens, I
    continued to grow them in a water/fertalizer mixture
    (hydroponically) with great success.  With the african violets I
    would loose a fairly high percentage in attempting to move them to
    the "soil".  They were also much slower in developing new plantless
    that way.  Rooting them directly into the "soil" seems to work much
    faster with very few losses.
    BTW - you might want to check out something called the Texas-Style
    Potting Method.  You can buy - or make these pots yourself. It's an
    excellent way of keeping your plants at just the right moisture
    level - without a lot of daily work.
 * SLMR 2.1a * Algebra: What the Little Mermaid wears.
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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