Dip the base of the cuttings in a rooting hormone for faster and better rooting. Rooting stimulants are generally available in most garden supply stores. Use as directed. Trim cuttings and remove leaves from lower half of each cutting. The medium used for rooting cuttings must be clean and sterile.
Diseases are a frequent cause of poor rooting.
They may come from containers, tools, workbench or rooting media that have not been sterilized. The rooting medium should not contain fertilizer. Begin fertilizing after cuttings are rooted and have been transplanted to a growing medium. Clean, coarse, construction-grade sand may be used for rooting cuttings. Avoid very fine sand because it has poor aeration, which retards root formation.