I've noticed that TRUNK cuttings often produce roots at the cut surface sooner than along the trunk. Looking at the 2 cuttings in these pics, it appears the roots emerge from a layer of conductive tissue within the stem. Where they can emerge at the cut surface, extending as roots before the lenticels (nubbies) located on the bark begin to extend into recognizable roots.













There are 2 different cuttings seen above...2 images of each. The 1rst cutting shows a more defined (whitish) ring of what I assume to be conductive tissue, from which the roots emerge.

These trunk cuttings came from some of the seedlings I grew out last year. The tops of the plants began to wither back, so I cut the trunks off just above the soil and made cuttings out of the good wood at the bottom.

Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

I just finished putting some rooted cuttings in soil this afternoon and noticed the same thing, Patrick. Some actually looked they were "sitting on" a ton of tiny roots 2-3 inches long with none along the cutting itself and on others the roots were coming out in masses along the side of the stem. Strange habits. In my case some were the thinner cuttings doing the lower rooting and some thick cuttings had roots on the side. Wish I had taken pictures but don't have time now to go out and uproot them to do so. Definitely something to observe the next time.

Oh, just a thought...could it be that those cuttings with low roots I had left the water very low most of the rooting process while the others stood in deeper water?

Jarie
Mission, TX
Rio Grande Valley
Zone 9

I had some do that too. I had put some in very shallow water because I had had rot problems with deeper water and drying up and withering putting into soil. The one I have kept in shallow water has 3 little roots coming out of the one spot and none anywhere else. It has 3 leaves now but I am afraid to pot it up since there are no other signs of roots or nubbies anywhere else. My Hawaiian Double White cutting is a mass of roots and nubbies and well leafed out and doing do well I am afraid to pot it up, lol.

Kristy
Copperas Cove, Tx
USDA Zone 8a
Heat Zone 9

Patrick thanks for the pictures of these cuttings. I am going to look at the buckets and see if any of my larger size cuttings look anything like your cuttings. Christal

I have also observed this on some hardwood cuttings I rooted this fall. Thanks for sharing the photos, wierd how there is a difference in all the kinds of cuttings.