ROOTING INSTRUCTIONS

You may notice a slight chemical odor when you open the bag. This is residual Chinosol (0.1% solution) I use to sanitize the cuttings before packing. You should keep the cuttings in the bags in the crisper section of the fridge (not the freezer!) until you are ready to root. When I take the cuttings I deliberately leave excess wood at the bottom, to reduce drying. So, just before rooting, soak the sticks in plain water for several hours (or overnight) to rehydrate. Then trim the bottom ends, just below the bottom bud and use a sharp knife to make two deep longitudinal cuts, a couple inches long, through the bark on opposite sides of the bottom. This is called "scarring" and opens up the cambium to improve root formation. Then dip the ends in rooting hormone (I recommend the liquid Dip N Grow). (You can easily identify the bottom by looking at the buds - they point up.  The leaf scar is below the bud.  I also (usually) cut a slant on the top of the stick.) When you trim the bottom, confirm that the tissue has a greenish hue.   This confirms that it is alive and healthy. Don't bother to trim the top. Then follow instructions at: http://www.bunchgrapes.com/cuttings.html Be sure to callus the cuttings as described to optimize rooting. Some additional tips can be found at: http://www.littlefatwino.com/cuttings.html