Popcorn plant Cassia from cuttings

[Janet Macunovich 32]

Hi all. Here's an email that came to us during the website launch, and our first stab at an answer. We really need help with this one, from you folks out there with greenhouses!

 

HI,

I work at a greenhouse and we are having problems growing Popcorn Plant from cuttings. Do you have any info. The cuttings look droopy. Maybe to much misting or not enough, not hot enough or to hot, looking for suggestions.

Thank you,

Deb

 

Not something we've done ourselves but something we'll gladly look into, Deb. Meanwhile we're going to post this on our Forum because there are at least two good greenhouse growers there who may have some experience with this.

 

Is that the plant also called peanut butter senna

Cassia didymobotrya? (Sometimes it's still listed as Senna didymobotrya, we are told).

Janet & Steven

This photo of Cassia didymobotrya is of a plant in the great Kent County Master Gardener/Extension garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As far as we know it's not hardy to more than a couple degrees of frost, so maybe zone 9, but could be kept from year to year by taking it into a cool greenhouse over winter, as you woulda banana tree.

[Dawn Trainor 3]

I grew this in my own garden this year but did not think about taking any cuttings to try to propogate. Are you just sticking the cuttings? Rooting hormone? Have you tried to root the cuttings in water (the way my Grandma did) - seems to work with some things. I use a makeshift terrarium to keep consistent humidity without having to worry about misting.

[Martha Ferguson 0]

Most of these plants are considered annuals even here in South Carolina. Save seeds and try starting them in very warm spring weather.

[Janet Macunovich 32]

T(wo cents-ing, and letting you-all know we've notified Deb that there's info here plus the need for more input. Might have some bumps and hiccup-y starts at first, helping people make the transition from one-on-one email to airing issues here!)

 

Haven't grown these but did stumble on info in a rather old greenhouse growers manual. Says the species wants to be almost dry in winter, and calls for sharp sand for cuttings, also high proportion sand in potting mixes. So perhaps they're susceptible to stem rot? The manual also calls for semi-ripe cuttings, so the stuff that has gone beyond firm and "snap" to near woody -- that'd be the BASAL portions of a stem, huh?

Also says bottom heat.

[gonative 1]

An idea - would the original poster consider a substitute? I love growing our native Wild Senna, Senna hebecarpa. It is hardy to up to zone 3 and long lived. The foliage is a bit finer and it can be rangy (up to six feet or so) but the flowers are very showy with that same beautiful yellow color. Sometimes to control height I prune it a couple times during the season as well as deadhead the extra seedpods. It also tolerates a wide range of soils including clay and dry conditions.

[cypress83 0]

We rooted Popcorn Plant ( Cassia didymobotrya) cuttings in mid- February, using a rooting hormone, Hormex powder, last year in our retail greenhouse. The majority of them rooted successfully, and even flowered, while in 4.5 " pots, throughout the summer in the greenhouse. They were stem tip cuttings, propagated in Baccto soil, and kept moist while rooting. Bottom heat was used underneath the propagating table. The air temperature was around 60 F during the day, and 50 F at night, while they were rooting. The leaves would droop during the season when the soil was too dry, which happened many times when greenhouse temperatures would range from 90 F to 100 F.

[Janet Macunovich 32]

We alerted Deb, the person who raised the question, that you-all have been here to give her help, here. (Deb's question came to us by email.) She knows she could come here and view your answers even wthout becoming a Member, so our thought is she's seen this now and like some others (we know because we've been there ourselves) doesn't immediately see the benefit in becoming a Member able to Post and say "thanks"".

Meanwhile, we're sure other readers will be glad for this information. I know we're glad for the help with the native; knew we'd seen a native senna in... Minnesota in the prairie area of the Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen? -- but had never gotten a name for it!