I'm having a continual problem with the rooting time of Peterstar white URC's. When we stick URC's of Peterstar in the same misting section as Prestige or other dark leaf varieties, we get a higher than usual failure rate in the Peterstar cuttings. The main reason seems to be that the Peterstar callus fine but root out slower than the other varieties. So when we bring the light level up and misting is reduced, the Peterstars fail. When I pull a few cuttings, they look as if the callus has died. There is no sign of fungus gnats, they just don't root out. I have seperated the future stickings into seperate mist section, but can't seperate the light levels as easily.
Anybody have any thoughts?

Run Some clothes line wire, or make temporary wood frames and apply "cheese cloth" or scrap pieces of shade cloth above the Peterstar White. Remember that they are a light leaved variety compared to Prestige....Michael Pawelek

Slow callus formation and rooting in propagation can be attributed to several factors.

Here are some things to think about that could lead to slow rooting:

Low oxygen level in the media: density of mix, high moisture content

Low light in the propagation area

Cool temps, especially media

Immature or over mature cuttings, thin or weak with low levels of stored carbohydrates

Chemicals: fumigations, pesticides, and herbicides

Not using rooting hormone

Certain cultivars respond to these stresses differently. Peterstars are light leaf cultivars so they are more sensitive in general. We do recommend using a rooting hormone on Peterstar. We also have Peterstar on a longer schedule. Most varieties are on a 4 week propagation schedule but for the Peterstars we allow 5 weeks for rooting, moving them to the toning area one week later than most varieties

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Hi Kris

I had trouble with Peterstar the last couple of years rooting those for Jim. Very much as you describe. We have always observed Prestige to be slower than most of the other varieties in our program, but Peterstar was a step beyond. We don't use any of the Peterstar colors in our program, we have the luxury to select our genetics as growers first and marketeers second. Jim is rooting his own points this year, you might want to give Tom a call and see how the Peterstars are rooting.

Chuck

The comments from Ecke tech are good input however the problem that KTweedy is having seems to be more associated with direct rooting We have it in light leaf varieties and prestige. Peterstar seems to be the worst. When we stick the same varieties in cubes in the same enviroment, misty schedule, etc, they root the same as others, maybe only a little slower. I have been seeing this for several years to varying degrees. I looks like fungus gnat infestation without the presence of fungus Gnat larvae.I have a theory and will write more about it later if I can find some evidence to support it.