with the cutting in water, I can fill the cube with rooting gel - 'Gel4 Plugs' on this occasion.

 

This is another great point which is argued over time and again.  The need to use a rooting hormone when taking cuttings.

 

For my sins, I must have tried pretty much every product available, looking for 'the one', which would guarantee no matter what my own kak-handed gardening technique was, all the cuttings would succeed.

 

From a personal point of view I dont think it matters what product you use.  Or even if you use one at all.

 

Manufacturers have recognised an important feature which needs to be included in any advertising campaign.  Psycology.

 

So the ads use words like 'proven', 'success' etc, allied to clinical sounding terms like 'cell level' and 'cell structural changes', on which to sell their products.  Fair enough!

 

The cell structure of the plant does change as it transitions from above ground duties, to subteranean, and after only two or three days its normally possible to see the cell change happening with the naked eye, as the new 'root nubs' start to form at the base of the cutting....but I digress.  Which hormone is the best?  The one you believe in the most, of course!

 

Chances are, if you have a friend who is growing, and they use a particular brand of rooting hormone with any success, it'll work very well for you too.

 

If you dont happen to have any rooting hormone to hand, then do the job without any!

 

Patience, and some high humidity will see the plants root through successfully, whether you use any or not.

 

Honest! :-)

 

  ready to receive the cutting..