Some trees grow from cuttings easily, some don't. What tree are you trying?

Wouldn't the buried potato grow into a potato plant?

Hi Noki,

We're using an Autumn Blaze Maple cutting. I thought the potato would grow into a plant too. That has yet to happen though. Paul James mentioned that the potato had to be completed buried under the soil. I'm wondering if there aren't buds and the sunlight is limited, if that plays a role in the potato sprouting.

Apparently this is a very old technique. Has anyone else tried it? I'm very curious to see if it works. I would think the ample moisture and nutrients in the potato would provide a decent climate (if the cutting doesn't rot first. I'm keep you all posted.

PJ is very entertaining ... but i sometimes cringe at his suggestions ...

anyway.. have you tried the shows website????

if a certain plant is rootable .... as noted some are.. some arent.. you can root them in a milk jug ... top cut away .. with perlite ... and a gallon baggies for a tent .... AT THE APPROPRIATE time of year for such ...

why one would want to waste the cost of potatoes to it all is beyond me ...

there is a propagation forum ... and try google.. using the latin name ... something like ACER AUTUMN BLAZE PROPAGATION .... and you will learn how.. and when ...

good luck

ken

I tried it but had better luck rooting the cuttings conventionally. Every type of cutting I tried did better without the potato.

Ditto what Ken said about PJ.

I wrenched my thumb once while attempting to do a faster-than-the-speed-of-sound channel switch when PJ came on. I'm afraid that if I have to look up his nose or at his tonsils one more time, my eyes will begin to bleed.

I've had excruciating back pain all day, but this post and answers made me laugh. Fortunately it doesn't hurt when I laugh, though I wish it it only hurt when I laugh.
Smiling,
idabean

I just posted this update in another area, but thought I'd post it here too:

Hi there,
I tried this after watching Paul. I tried it with a tree cutting which was a long shot. It didn't work for me with the tree branch. I kept it outside and made sure it was moist.

What was interesting is that on warm days, the potato would foam. Recently, I realized the cutting wasn't going anywhere and took it out to add to the compost pile. Thenwhile emptying the pot, to my amazement, the potato skin was still present, but there was NO potato left inside. I saw no signs of any insects. There were no holes in the skin except for the small hole I poked to start the cutting. It was unreal. The best comparison I can make is when you poke a small hole in an egg shell and remove the contents without breaking the shell.

Anyone have any ideas on what might have happened?

The potato rotted away (fermenting into the foam you saw), leaving behind the rot-resistant skin.

That's why rooting cuttings in a potato isn't a good idea; the rotting potato supports a massive population of decay organisms, which will also attack the cutting. Far better to root the cutting in soil, the chances of success are much higher.

Resin

PS bet the potato stank horrible, too!

I read that the settlers did that not to root the cuttings but to keep them moist when there was little water or because water was an inconvenience in their travels. Anita