I have a ton of active growing sphagnum. My go to method for rooting is to grab a handful of live moss, wrap it around the node, drop into a venti cold cup from Starbucks (don't judge my refresher addiction) and put the lid on it. They stack well and fit on a window sill. The hole in the lid allows venting and the panoramic clear view lets you easily check for root rot.
Could you please tell me where you got your live sphagnum moss? I have seen numerous people say that if you are patient, the dry moss has the possibility to green and start growing, but I'm not sure the best brands to do that with. Also, I've heard that in the United States, the companies who produce sphagnum moss have to disinfect it in a way that totally kills the moss....I don't know, so much conflicting info. Lol. As for the propagation method, I've heard conflicting info about that too. Some people say moss is the way to go, and others say they have had awful luck....im testing out some ideas. Currently, I'm trying a perlite and vermiculite mix in a prop box. The vermiculite hols moisture and nutrients but stays fairly fluffy and the perlite holds a lot of space for air flow and oxygen. So far so good! Happy propagating! Lol
Mum: Where are all my large tupperware containers?!? They keep on disappearing! Me: (pushing my propagation project under the bed) hmm...that's weird... that's suspicious...
I created a propagation box with a little 3-tier bathroom shelf and some LED strips taped to the underside of the top shelf. I changed to your propagation method 2.5 weeks ago and already all the pothos and philodendron are ready for potting, compared to my water propagated cuttings which usually take 4-6 weeks. Thank you!
I do this with most of my cuttings but I cover it with cling film instead of using the lid so the plants can get more light. I poke the cling film with tiny holes all over so the plants can "breathe" a little and mist it with water every week of so depending on the room's ambient temperature and humidity. I do spray the cuttings with 3% hydrogen peroxide to clean them before propagating in the tub so I can re-use the media and minimise the risk of accidentally infecting new propagation projects with bugs and fungus.
I have another video that shows with a food scale exactly how to replicate the moistness level of sphagnum moss. so you can get a feel for it too if you need any further clarification!
I literally just stumbled across your channel last night. Honestly, best videos because they are straight to the point and super helpful without wasting 15+ minutes of my life. Great concise videos! :)
You are my go-to plant guy! Thank you so much for all of your hard work and time planting, experimenting, and posting videos for us. I hope you and your wife had a lovely Thanksgiving.
Wow, thank you! yeah it was a nice and relaxing time! we also have an accepted offer on a house ( it has been chaotic ) so hopefully that all goes through well and we can move, which means i can expand the channel exponentially and really produce some good content and a TON more experiments!
That expanded clay or LECA is an amazing product. When I used to work for an interior plant company we were in the process of switching over to only LECA for potting up the tropicals. It works great for all plant types. What a great home propagation kit. Excellent video
Can confirm it works and it’s the best way to do it! I use it for trees, although it takes more time on my side because... trees are just behaving like trees.
Hello from Greece Love your videos I just found them And today I am setting up my propagation bin About the moss... Do I moist it again or only in the beginning? And again thank you ☺️
I've tried a small version of this box and my string of hearts cuttings just exploded with root growth, they just love it. Plus, thanks for accidentally helping me to identify the peacock spikemoss! I always use it when making moist environments.
Instead of opening it everyday you can actually just drill a couple holes in it, and if you accidentally drill too much and you find that it's drying out too fast you can always just cover those with tape until you find the right in between
Excellent! I've watched all your propagation videos and was always pleased but this looks like a great all-purpose method for large quantities. Just what I always wanted! ❤ 🙏
You could add springtails to your propagation bin and they would eat any mold or fungus that would grow in there. They work great in my tree frog terrarium
I was looking for a pathos propagation video and stumbled upon your channel. You have in just 3 videos become my favourite YT channel. Thank you for putting out amazing & educative content
Super tip for starting cuttings. Idea: I have dozens of pc case fans ranging from 80 mm up to 140 mm. I may use your system but add a small pc fan to the tote lid on one end and drill exhaust holes on the other end of the lid. If my propagation room is 50% humidity or higher, there should not be a problem with the sphagnum moss from drying out too quickly. This would eliminate having to open the lid every day. What do you think about my idea?
sounds like a good idea, but maybe put the fan on a timer. I think if it runs 24/7 it would dry it out but I think you will have to experiment with it to find out a good setting
2:00 I get around this by recycling food-container lids that just can fit exactly on top. Yet due to its shape it allows the terrarium to breathe without having to drill holes allowing it to dry out. I repurpose food containers but not with their original lids. I also notice it forms a dew in the morning/on cooler nights regardless of the temperature outside the terrarium. The dew seem to happen only when it is cooler outside, it is as though the plants inside the terrarium react to the weather outside the house. Not sure if this how all terrariums are but that's how mine tends to be.
I have done this and it works great, I use this method for my begonias and sub charcoal instead of clay pebbles. I'm going to try your method for my airoids!
I usually just throw plain sphag into a bin and keep it moist but not soggy. I usually just soak the sphag and threw ring it out and water it a little when I add it in to the bin.
@@erickperez8770 the sphag just acts like a sponge so you can water it in like potting soil. Just don’t do it often because it’s really not needed. As far as disturbing cuttings goes it’s not a problem
I havent noticed but my room is already like 45% humidity. if you want you can leave the lid open like /14 or 1/2 way to reduce the humidity significantly. you will still get good propagation results you just need to monitor the sphagnum moss wetness more rigorously because its going to dry faster. but that should help your more sensitive plants adapt once removed. So far i havent had issues like that but again everyones environment is diff.
Once plant cuttings develop a sound root system, they will actually DECLINE if kept in that high humid environment. They just out right rot. They actually NEED to be taken out. Initially they focus all of their energy and resources on root growth. After that, they shift to foliar growth. That is your queue that they should have been taken out already. Leave them in there much longer and they will start to rot... so no. They NEED to be taken out once they have a good root system. Opening the container to let in oxygen as he suggests becomes more critical the larger more developed the root systems become. The only exception to this is in vitro or tissue culture. Those definitely do need to be gradually acclimated to normal/lower ambient humidity.
nope lol, im going to open up an affordable plant shop, I wanna sell even """rare""" plants for like 15-20 bucks. My philodendron melanochryzm is "worth" like 80 bucks for a cutting. thats a load of crap. Im propagating the heck out of it now so i can get a solid inventory and then im selling them cheap so this hobby doesnt become a bunch of rich people "collecting" "rare" plants for status. REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE i could go on for hours. but people are justifying selling crap like Pink Princess for like $300 dollars when they were 19.99 on logees like 3 years ago.
@@TechplantChannel Mother natures the one who deserves all that money. I bet all my plants and fishing equipment that us outdoor boys and girls donate more to nature than those “collectors” 😂! And these bidding wars does not help either
Had to redo my box because it was a mold and smelled like mildew and the the cuttings started getting brown spots so starting over with new cuttings and hopefully it doesn’t get too smelly this time
I love your videos, thank you so much for making them and the updates as well! I'm trying to propagate some cuttings that were given to me but I don't know what I'm doing wrong, it's not rooting! A couple of them have a tiny new root but after 3 weeks, that's pretty much it! Even the ones I have in water (Pothos neon) have been there for 6 weeks (I changed the water every 2 days at first, until I saw your other video) and it's been about 3 weeks with no water change but still nothing. They're still alive so I'll keep waiting but I want mine to work like yours! Haha!
This method looks like it would work really well. I gotta try it out sometime with a piece of gardening fabric between the clay pebbles and sphagnum moss.
I just soak them for like 1 min when rinsing, they will suck up any excess water on thr bottom of the bin if they didn't get totally saturated during rinsing/soaking
sorry i flubbed it, i make sure that the sphagnum is wet-damp. you dont want it sopping wet where its smothering the plants and really heavy but you dont want it super light and kinda moist. Its so hard to explain. the watering will really depend on the size, and how often you take the lid off and or leave it off. you dont want lots of water sitting at the bottom
you reminded me to check on my alocasia bulbs i’m trying to get a sprout on. i have them in mason jars & i feel like they’re taking forever 😩😄 patience is a virtue i guess 🤷🏽♀️
Question for you. My prop box was doing well. Roots were growing great. Today I opened my box to find my cutting were COLD. I have a grow light on them and they’re in a west facing window. Suggestions?
Dunno what I’m doing wrong but I have a similar set up and getting a lot of rotting cuttings. I air it frequently too. Did you say you had a grow light on it? That’s the only thing I can think but I have it in a south facing conservatory on a heat mat.
The additional heat mat may be the problem? Because it's already in an enclosed space that's causing condensation, the heat mat is probably keeping the environment more humid/wet if that makes sense. I've realized through trial and error that plants really don't need that much moisture to root. (I'm also just now discovering this awesome channel because I'm always up for improving my propagation techniques!)
@@zyramiller4606 I tried without a heatmat before and it was way worse, because it was cold moisture. With the heatmat it actually dried out quicker and I am having to add moisture to it. But I know what the problem was. The grow light I was using was bad so I'm guessing the plants just couldn't get any energy to survive for the most part and it was winter at that. I bought a Sansi bulb and replaced it and have started having great success with only a few cuttings dying. I also cleaned it regularly since I was mainly using it for water propagations with molar clay at the bottom that I could add water to to create humidity. But I've just now recently changed to the exact setup Techplant uses with leca, moss, perlite now and hoping I get as great of a success with it. :)
i hardly every spray it, it stays pretty wet. i only spray to make the sphagnum wet, but avoid getting too much water in the reservoir. i hope this helps, i realize i wasnt very specific in the video! sorry!
a little wont cause any issues I just dont like leavign globs of it on because it holds so much water, just pull lightly and get it really wet and it comes off
@@TechplantChannel quick follow-up question Tech, how often do I water the box? I got all the stuff recently and successfully built my own based on your design(just a larger, clear box) but am unsure of the watering schedule.
@@TechplantChannel Sorry last question, should i put a few small holes at the top for some airflow? I have opened it and fanned it twice a day for 2 mins a day.
This seems super easy to do and incredibly useful! Thank you so much for this incredibly informative video! Love it! :D Now it's time to start my own bin
Hi! Hope you're well. I need help. I've acquired few monstera stem cuttings (no leaves). I've put them in a clear box with moss. I do not have grow light so keep it in the balcony where it gets the morning sun (at least 6 hrs). I kept them in the box 2 days back and opened the box today only to find out part of stem on all the cuttings had turned black. I cut the rotted part and put them in the box again. But I've kept the box in shaded part of the balcony where it doesn't get direct sunlight. Please advise if I need to do something different.
great video, good idea. Did you try to cut a hole in the box and put a mesh in it? Would be easier than open the box everyday. I also had trouble with molds last winter, now I put a fan next to the plants, hope it works.
I found this video after doing leaf cutting propagation from my Sansevieria Coppertone. Then, I decided to re-do it with this LECA-sphagnum-perlite complex method in a big glass jar. Should I half-close the lid? Thanks!
Hi there, I have everything ready for the box but am getting conflicting & confusing information about how to prepare the LECA before using it. One website said rinse in lukewarm water twice, add baking soda to second rinse, boil for 3rd rinse and then put on a drying rack! Really?
I just throw it in the bin straight from the bag, or do a light rinse just to get it pre soaked if i have a lot of time. IF you dont rinse you will just have some crumbs at the bottom of the bag. Also if you do rinse be careful cuz all the sediment will get in your pipes. I do not know why people get all crazy with boiling and sanitizing. its literally an inert material so its not like the clay is "rotting"
never tried honestly so i have no idea, maybe keep it cracked so its not 100% i feel like herbs are far more sensitive to like molds and stuff that could form
Thanks for the super helpful information! A few questions: Can you use pumice in place of perlite? Would you ever put the cuttings in individual cups before putting them inside the prop box, or just straight into the box like in the video? I’ve heard that if you keep them in individual cups inside the bin, you prevent the roots from different cuttings getting tangled in each other. If I drill holes in the lid, do I still need to open up the bin daily?
the cups is a good idea for what you stated. honestly i hardly open up the bins these days and they are still cruising along so i wouldnt drill too many holes or the humidity will fall. ive never used pumice but it would probably work
Great video. I have those crates, lots of sphagnum moss, and pumice in various sizes. Do you think pumice would work instead of perlite? I also have alot of horticultural charcoal...it's chunky and absorbs odors. Might it work at the base instead of the pebbles?
Also wondering if there is a specific type of sphagnum moss and clay pebbles to use? Prices and reviews vary significantly…. I want to start out right.
The really expensive stuff is mostly for orchids and looks nicer and is cleaner but you can get away with some cheaper stuff it just will have sticks and other crap in it. the clay balls are pretty much the same everywhere
Would running a small fan inside the prop box alleviate mold issues, or is fresh air daily really the best? I drilled holes in the side of the prop boxes, which worked great for mold, but allowed fungus gnats inside.
Hi mate. I'm a beginner and would love to know you mind on this - will forest bark be acceptable as a base of my propagation box instead of pebbles? I want to propagate monastera from seeds. I'd appreciate your advice! ❤️
no, because the clay pebbles are dried in like a kiln they are like "puffed" meaning there is a lot of air pockets inside the pebbles. regular clay would smother it
I have a ton of active growing sphagnum. My go to method for rooting is to grab a handful of live moss, wrap it around the node, drop into a venti cold cup from Starbucks (don't judge my refresher addiction) and put the lid on it. They stack well and fit on a window sill. The hole in the lid allows venting and the panoramic clear view lets you easily check for root rot.
amazing! I like that clear cup idea!
Could you please tell me where you got your live sphagnum moss? I have seen numerous people say that if you are patient, the dry moss has the possibility to green and start growing, but I'm not sure the best brands to do that with. Also, I've heard that in the United States, the companies who produce sphagnum moss have to disinfect it in a way that totally kills the moss....I don't know, so much conflicting info. Lol. As for the propagation method, I've heard conflicting info about that too. Some people say moss is the way to go, and others say they have had awful luck....im testing out some ideas. Currently, I'm trying a perlite and vermiculite mix in a prop box. The vermiculite hols moisture and nutrients but stays fairly fluffy and the perlite holds a lot of space for air flow and oxygen. So far so good! Happy propagating! Lol
Mum: Where are all my large tupperware containers?!? They keep on disappearing!
Me: (pushing my propagation project under the bed) hmm...that's weird... that's suspicious...
Yes. My wife's totes seem to disappear and end up in my propagation room... somehow. lol
lmao
Lmao 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂
I created a propagation box with a little 3-tier bathroom shelf and some LED strips taped to the underside of the top shelf. I changed to your propagation method 2.5 weeks ago and already all the pothos and philodendron are ready for potting, compared to my water propagated cuttings which usually take 4-6 weeks. Thank you!
I do this with most of my cuttings but I cover it with cling film instead of using the lid so the plants can get more light. I poke the cling film with tiny holes all over so the plants can "breathe" a little and mist it with water every week of so depending on the room's ambient temperature and humidity. I do spray the cuttings with 3% hydrogen peroxide to clean them before propagating in the tub so I can re-use the media and minimise the risk of accidentally infecting new propagation projects with bugs and fungus.
Thanks so much for that beautifully detailed video about how much water to add to the moss. It was perfection!
I have another video that shows with a food scale exactly how to replicate the moistness level of sphagnum moss. so you can get a feel for it too if you need any further clarification!
I literally just stumbled across your channel last night. Honestly, best videos because they are straight to the point and super helpful without wasting 15+ minutes of my life. Great concise videos! :)
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching!
Excellent point! Some sites are excessively chatty.
You are my go-to plant guy! Thank you so much for all of your hard work and time planting, experimenting, and posting videos for us. I hope you and your wife had a lovely Thanksgiving.
Wow, thank you! yeah it was a nice and relaxing time! we also have an accepted offer on a house ( it has been chaotic ) so hopefully that all goes through well and we can move, which means i can expand the channel exponentially and really produce some good content and a TON more experiments!
@@TechplantChannel How exciting! Nothing like your first house together. I do hope it goes through for you.
It's been over a month, and I just realized that was meant to say *your first house, not first hour.
That expanded clay or LECA is an amazing product. When I used to work for an interior plant company we were in the process of switching over to only LECA for potting up the tropicals. It works great for all plant types. What a great home propagation kit. Excellent video
Thanks for sharing!
Can confirm it works and it’s the best way to do it! I use it for trees, although it takes more time on my side because... trees are just behaving like trees.
Good stuff! Never thought to try it with woody plants!
Yes. I've been propagating fruit trees for several years. They are definitely slow growers. Gotta have lots of patience. lol
I love your videos. I just want to say Thank you for these videos they are so helpful.
You are so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to watch them
Hello from Greece
Love your videos
I just found them
And today I am setting up my propagation bin
About the moss... Do I moist it again or only in the beginning?
And again thank you ☺️
I love your videos because they're interesting and educational 😁😁
Thank you for the video. I really like the fact that you show the progression of the propagation over time
yeah its fun looking at the footage, thanks for watching
I've tried a small version of this box and my string of hearts cuttings just exploded with root growth, they just love it. Plus, thanks for accidentally helping me to identify the peacock spikemoss! I always use it when making moist environments.
Thanks for sharing!
Instead of opening it everyday you can actually just drill a couple holes in it, and if you accidentally drill too much and you find that it's drying out too fast you can always just cover those with tape until you find the right in between
good suggestion! thank you!
I have been using a setup like this after seeing it on Harli G’s channel and it works really well!
Awesome!
Excellent! I've watched all your propagation videos and was always pleased but this looks like a great all-purpose method for large quantities. Just what I always wanted! ❤ 🙏
Great to hear! same, managing a bunch of diff cups and bags is a pain, you can basically scale this to any size bin!
You could add springtails to your propagation bin and they would eat any mold or fungus that would grow in there. They work great in my tree frog terrarium
I gotta! Good thinking!
I always use Leca in pots and prop bins. However, I’ve never added pearlite to sphagnum moss. Def going to try this!
I was looking for a pathos propagation video and stumbled upon your channel. You have in just 3 videos become my favourite YT channel. Thank you for putting out amazing & educative content
Thanks for taking the time to leave nice comments!
Your video on propagation method was truly good. Was of great value for me .Thank you .God bless us
Glad it was helpful!
Super tip for starting cuttings.
Idea: I have dozens of pc case fans ranging from 80 mm up to 140 mm. I may use your system but add a small pc fan to the tote lid on one end and drill exhaust holes on the other end of the lid. If my propagation room is 50% humidity or higher, there should not be a problem with the sphagnum moss from drying out too quickly. This would eliminate having to open the lid every day. What do you think about my idea?
sounds like a good idea, but maybe put the fan on a timer. I think if it runs 24/7 it would dry it out but I think you will have to experiment with it to find out a good setting
Awesome prop method that I will always swer by. I have 8 of these bins going strong, low effort and great results 👌🏽
Thanks for the tips on IG, i love seeing your prop bins!
This is a great idea, using the leca as the base is perfect. Definitely doing this for the next round of propagations I do!
nice, good luck!
When I see you have put out a new video I get so excited, like a kid... get to learn something new ...Love your videos! keep up the good work..
Awesome! Thank you and will do!
2:00 I get around this by recycling food-container lids that just can fit exactly on top. Yet due to its shape it allows the terrarium to breathe without having to drill holes allowing it to dry out. I repurpose food containers but not with their original lids.
I also notice it forms a dew in the morning/on cooler nights regardless of the temperature outside the terrarium. The dew seem to happen only when it is cooler outside, it is as though the plants inside the terrarium react to the weather outside the house. Not sure if this how all terrariums are but that's how mine tends to be.
very cool! I've been using deli cups from Pho take out for a lot of stuff they are perfect.
Your videos are the best. I really enjoy your experiments and the results are satisfying to watch 💚
Thank you! Cheers!
I have done this and it works great, I use this method for my begonias and sub charcoal instead of clay pebbles. I'm going to try your method for my airoids!
awesome! I should try the charcoal too! thanks
@@TechplantChannel Me too. Just bought some charcoal in fact! Thanks for the idea :)
I usually just throw plain sphag into a bin and keep it moist but not soggy. I usually just soak the sphag and threw ring it out and water it a little when I add it in to the bin.
Nice that works well too
How do you keep adding water to the bin without having to take out the cuttings and disturbing them?
@@erickperez8770 the sphag just acts like a sponge so you can water it in like potting soil. Just don’t do it often because it’s really not needed. As far as disturbing cuttings goes it’s not a problem
@seizedcarcass8440 oh ok I was afraid of thr moss compacting which would reduce air circulation withing the roots. Thank you
@@erickperez8770 it won’t compact if you don’t pack it in. It holds a fair amount of air anyway
they look so healthy
They LOVE the bin
Coming from such a lovely humid environment do they have issues transitioning to “normal” life?
I havent noticed but my room is already like 45% humidity. if you want you can leave the lid open like /14 or 1/2 way to reduce the humidity significantly. you will still get good propagation results you just need to monitor the sphagnum moss wetness more rigorously because its going to dry faster. but that should help your more sensitive plants adapt once removed. So far i havent had issues like that but again everyones environment is diff.
Once plant cuttings develop a sound root system, they will actually DECLINE if kept in that high humid environment. They just out right rot. They actually NEED to be taken out. Initially they focus all of their energy and resources on root growth. After that, they shift to foliar growth. That is your queue that they should have been taken out already. Leave them in there much longer and they will start to rot... so no. They NEED to be taken out once they have a good root system. Opening the container to let in oxygen as he suggests becomes more critical the larger more developed the root systems become. The only exception to this is in vitro or tissue culture. Those definitely do need to be gradually acclimated to normal/lower ambient humidity.
Yesssss i love your propogation videos!
me too, i love how you can literally make copies of your plants. its like "Plant Pirating"
ack, I was at bed bath and beyond today and wanted to buy a bunch of tubs. Will walk back tomorrow and follow through! thanks for this vid
nice, they work really well!
Where can I get the Plat light panels you have in the back?
Might have to try that out. My spikemosses don't really enjoy sitting in just perlite and water.
they love this box! ive also had some do well in a jar
Could you add springtails to the bin to prevent mold and fungus growth? That way maybe you dont have to open it so often?
Yes you can
what do you do with all the plants? do you just have infinite room for them?
nope lol, im going to open up an affordable plant shop, I wanna sell even """rare""" plants for like 15-20 bucks. My philodendron melanochryzm is "worth" like 80 bucks for a cutting. thats a load of crap. Im propagating the heck out of it now so i can get a solid inventory and then im selling them cheap so this hobby doesnt become a bunch of rich people "collecting" "rare" plants for status. REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE i could go on for hours. but people are justifying selling crap like Pink Princess for like $300 dollars when they were 19.99 on logees like 3 years ago.
@@TechplantChannel you're a saint
@@TechplantChannel Mother natures the one who deserves all that money. I bet all my plants and fishing equipment that us outdoor boys and girls donate more to nature than those “collectors” 😂! And these bidding wars does not help either
Had to redo my box because it was a mold and smelled like mildew and the the cuttings started getting brown spots so starting over with new cuttings and hopefully it doesn’t get too smelly this time
I love your videos, thank you so much for making them and the updates as well! I'm trying to propagate some cuttings that were given to me but I don't know what I'm doing wrong, it's not rooting! A couple of them have a tiny new root but after 3 weeks, that's pretty much it! Even the ones I have in water (Pothos neon) have been there for 6 weeks (I changed the water every 2 days at first, until I saw your other video) and it's been about 3 weeks with no water change but still nothing. They're still alive so I'll keep waiting but I want mine to work like yours! Haha!
Pls let us know how do u pot these cuttings from propogation tray to pot .... most of the time they die with this shift ... pls
Ok i will show soon since the yare getting close to needing to be repotted
@@TechplantChannel thank u !! Wil wait ...
What’s the point of adding the perlite if I may ask?
This method looks like it would work really well. I gotta try it out sometime with a piece of gardening fabric between the clay pebbles and sphagnum moss.
thats a good idea!
My setup is about the same as yours and everything roots!!! Thanks for the video
Good stuff!
Can i makes the moss layer thicker, maybe 3.5 inches?
Can i leave 1/4 inch of water in the bottom?
should be fine just dont let the moss soak so much that its heavy and not airy
Are you using a grow specific bulb in your shoplight…?
I use barinna grow lights and barrina shop lights
Hello 👋 Question, the LECA at the bottom, so I first soak them in water before laying them down in the box??? Thank you.
I just soak them for like 1 min when rinsing, they will suck up any excess water on thr bottom of the bin if they didn't get totally saturated during rinsing/soaking
maybe i missed it, but how often did you add water into the box (and how much) during those two months?
sorry i flubbed it, i make sure that the sphagnum is wet-damp. you dont want it sopping wet where its smothering the plants and really heavy but you dont want it super light and kinda moist. Its so hard to explain. the watering will really depend on the size, and how often you take the lid off and or leave it off. you dont want lots of water sitting at the bottom
@@TechplantChannel thanks for the clarification! gotta try making one like this one day
@@TechplantChannel how do you water it? Add water from the side so it only goes to the leca and wicks up to the moss? Or do you spray the moss?
@@janet_chung_ i spray everything, once the top later looks wet I stop then it sorta balances itself out
you reminded me to check on my alocasia bulbs i’m trying to get a sprout on. i have them in mason jars & i feel like they’re taking forever 😩😄 patience is a virtue i guess 🤷🏽♀️
that is so dang true in this hobby! Good luck with them i hope they sprout soon!
Question for you. My prop box was doing well. Roots were growing great. Today I opened my box to find my cutting were COLD. I have a grow light on them and they’re in a west facing window. Suggestions?
hmm thats weird im not really sure what the issue would be but as long as they arent hitting like sub 50s you should be ok
Dunno what I’m doing wrong but I have a similar set up and getting a lot of rotting cuttings. I air it frequently too. Did you say you had a grow light on it? That’s the only thing I can think but I have it in a south facing conservatory on a heat mat.
yeah i keep a light on it for like 10ish hours a day
@@TechplantChannel I'm going to clean it up and restart again with a grow light this time. UK winters are not the greatest tbh haha.
@@TechplantChannel Mmm so I tried a grow light but still having the same issue. It's very odd. :/
The additional heat mat may be the problem? Because it's already in an enclosed space that's causing condensation, the heat mat is probably keeping the environment more humid/wet if that makes sense. I've realized through trial and error that plants really don't need that much moisture to root.
(I'm also just now discovering this awesome channel because I'm always up for improving my propagation techniques!)
@@zyramiller4606 I tried without a heatmat before and it was way worse, because it was cold moisture. With the heatmat it actually dried out quicker and I am having to add moisture to it.
But I know what the problem was. The grow light I was using was bad so I'm guessing the plants just couldn't get any energy to survive for the most part and it was winter at that. I bought a Sansi bulb and replaced it and have started having great success with only a few cuttings dying. I also cleaned it regularly since I was mainly using it for water propagations with molar clay at the bottom that I could add water to to create humidity. But I've just now recently changed to the exact setup Techplant uses with leca, moss, perlite now and hoping I get as great of a success with it. :)
Can I use pumice as a substitute for Leca?
im not sure, as ive never tried
What's your water schedule/amount? Like, one spray a day or actually adding water into the pebble "reservoir"?
i hardly every spray it, it stays pretty wet. i only spray to make the sphagnum wet, but avoid getting too much water in the reservoir. i hope this helps, i realize i wasnt very specific in the video! sorry!
Do you open the lids of the boxes every day?
No some go weeks without being opened
how do you get the spagnum moss off roots? If left on will it harm the roots?
a little wont cause any issues I just dont like leavign globs of it on because it holds so much water, just pull lightly and get it really wet and it comes off
@@TechplantChannel quick follow-up question Tech, how often do I water the box? I got all the stuff recently and successfully built my own based on your design(just a larger, clear box) but am unsure of the watering schedule.
@@Woollum90 I just wet it when it starts to dry
@@TechplantChannel Thank you! Your stuff is the best.
@@TechplantChannel Sorry last question, should i put a few small holes at the top for some airflow? I have opened it and fanned it twice a day for 2 mins a day.
Wow this was very helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!
How long do u air it out for
do you use fertilizer with spaghnum or only tap water ?
Sometimes I add fertilizer when watering or just sprinkle some osmocote the algae will grow very fast on the surface tho
This seems super easy to do and incredibly useful! Thank you so much for this incredibly informative video! Love it! :D Now it's time to start my own bin
Hi! Hope you're well. I need help. I've acquired few monstera stem cuttings (no leaves). I've put them in a clear box with moss. I do not have grow light so keep it in the balcony where it gets the morning sun (at least 6 hrs). I kept them in the box 2 days back and opened the box today only to find out part of stem on all the cuttings had turned black. I cut the rotted part and put them in the box again. But I've kept the box in shaded part of the balcony where it doesn't get direct sunlight. Please advise if I need to do something different.
That's exactly what I do and it works so well!!!!
yup yup!
Sphagnum moss 5 parts and 1 part perlite?
Can I not use the clay and use just moss and perlite?
yes it will work just fine as well
@@TechplantChannel when should I change the whole moss? One batch after another propagation or when they start smell funny?
I have 2 questions, I hope u can answer me... do I have to use a lamp for it? Or do I have to take the box outside to take the sun?
What can we use instead of the moss
I gotta try some other stuff, perlite works pretty decent. Soon i will try some diff style prop boxes
@@TechplantChannel actually I am just 14 years old so I don't I budget to buy perlite
what about the light? can i use a regular cheap le light?¿??
I use barrina grow lights which are pretty affordable, I even use their shop lights which are even cheaper.
Very good idea
Thank you! Cheers!
great video, good idea. Did you try to cut a hole in the box and put a mesh in it? Would be easier than open the box everyday. I also had trouble with molds last winter, now I put a fan next to the plants, hope it works.
you can totally do that, maybe ill try it with the next one
I subscribed because I’m learning how to grow plants and your videos are the best. 😍 Thank you very much! Merry Christmas!
Thanks for subbing! Merry Christmas to you too!
I so wanna try it out with my Begonia cuttings. Thanks :)
Good luck!
Why do my cuttings yellow? I read somewhere that it's not good to put cuttings under grow light. I'm confused
certain plants will kill off the original leaf as the new growth/vine sprouts from that area
Do you soak the LECA first?
I sprayed it a little but to settle the dust but i did not soak it. you can if you want. that way you can remove a lot of the LECA dust
@@TechplantChannel thanks! I haven't used LECA yet but this seems like a good way to start!
Do you just plant it with the moss still on the roots?
i try and pull the lose stuff off, but you can leave a little on there
@@TechplantChannel thanks for letting me know!! I'm excited to try it out. Love your vids btw.
Hey is that a variegated rhaphidophora tetrasperma? 2:35
I found this video after doing leaf cutting propagation from my Sansevieria Coppertone. Then, I decided to re-do it with this LECA-sphagnum-perlite complex method in a big glass jar. Should I half-close the lid? Thanks!
i would, just monitor it and see how it responds
Thanks for sharing your very informative video I love this kind of methods I will definitely try it my self thank you I found you stay safe
Glad it was helpful! Its almost been a year now since ive been using bins, im using more and more because they work so well and are maintenance free
How many times should I add water?
Can I use stons instead of the leca?
For how many minutes should I let the lid open?
So how often do you water it in there? And do you spray or do you just add water to the bottom where the leca is at?
I spray the whole thing down and add a little bit of fertilizer too
Do cuttings grow in winter?
with grow lights
DOes the moss need to be thoroughly removed before potting? Or whatever that remains attached to newly grown roots is safe to go into the soil?
Have you tried peperomia leaf or leaf tip propagation in sphagnum moss? They are so little, it's hard to not burrow them completely in the moss
I have not, but a good friend of mine has had really good luck with them
This is a really good idea. 🤔
I also noticed the Techplant logo on the UV chamber thingy beside the bed. 😂
I was trying to make a techplant sign with it but never finished lol nice catch
How long do you let it air everyday?
I just open and blow some air in with the lid, lately i do it every few days
Thanks!
Do you water this at all? Im still
New to this.
can we use coco peat if we don't have sphagnum moss?
I wonder how much you water / spray the moss during this process?
i just made a video about how wet i make the moss!
@@TechplantChannelYep just saw it, thank you!
Hi there, I have everything ready for the box but am getting conflicting & confusing information about how to prepare the LECA before using it. One website said rinse in lukewarm water twice, add baking soda to second rinse, boil for 3rd rinse and then put on a drying rack! Really?
I just throw it in the bin straight from the bag, or do a light rinse just to get it pre soaked if i have a lot of time. IF you dont rinse you will just have some crumbs at the bottom of the bag. Also if you do rinse be careful cuz all the sediment will get in your pipes. I do not know why people get all crazy with boiling and sanitizing. its literally an inert material so its not like the clay is "rotting"
Thanks for clearing that up!
How long (how many hours) do we leave it open to air? My cuttings aren't doing great, but it was also a chop/ prop project.
How awesome. Love you experiments.
This is cool! Can we use this for sun loving herbs like basil or vegetable cuttings too?
never tried honestly so i have no idea, maybe keep it cracked so its not 100% i feel like herbs are far more sensitive to like molds and stuff that could form
Excelent video. So helpful
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome! Love your vids!
Thanks for the kind words!
Thanks for the super helpful information! A few questions:
Can you use pumice in place of perlite?
Would you ever put the cuttings in individual cups before putting them inside the prop box, or just straight into the box like in the video? I’ve heard that if you keep them in individual cups inside the bin, you prevent the roots from different cuttings getting tangled in each other.
If I drill holes in the lid, do I still need to open up the bin daily?
the cups is a good idea for what you stated. honestly i hardly open up the bins these days and they are still cruising along so i wouldnt drill too many holes or the humidity will fall. ive never used pumice but it would probably work
Great video. I have those crates, lots of sphagnum moss, and pumice in various sizes. Do you think pumice would work instead of perlite? I also have alot of horticultural charcoal...it's chunky and absorbs odors. Might it work at the base instead of the pebbles?
Also wondering if there is a specific type of sphagnum moss and clay pebbles to use? Prices and reviews vary significantly…. I want to start out right.
The really expensive stuff is mostly for orchids and looks nicer and is cleaner but you can get away with some cheaper stuff it just will have sticks and other crap in it. the clay balls are pretty much the same everywhere
Great video! I'll try it out. Does it work for aglaonema and anthuriums?
not sure about agloanema, but im growing anthuriums this way as well
Thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Awesome I want to try this!
You should!
@@TechplantChannel ok thanks
Your amazing I been looking for you 🙃
Thanks!
Would running a small fan inside the prop box alleviate mold issues, or is fresh air daily really the best? I drilled holes in the side of the prop boxes, which worked great for mold, but allowed fungus gnats inside.
Superglue some screen mesh to the holes to solve your fungus gnat problem
Hi mate. I'm a beginner and would love to know you mind on this - will forest bark be acceptable as a base of my propagation box instead of pebbles? I want to propagate monastera from seeds. I'd appreciate your advice! ❤️
pebbles arent necessary you could just use sphagnum moss only. I would not put bark or wood in there as it will start to break down and rot
I live in an area with a lot of clay in the soil...do you think I could use that instead of the clay pebbles?
no, because the clay pebbles are dried in like a kiln they are like "puffed" meaning there is a lot of air pockets inside the pebbles. regular clay would smother it
will peat moss work the same?
Peat moss is more like soil. If you want to do it in peat moss, then you might want to do soil propagation.