The following is my experience with the use of "CB- FVR" propagating roses by cuttings.

Findings:

...........where normally 30% would root, I have been able to root 70% to 100% which has been very encouraging Using CB-FVR. I soaked cuttings (many semi-hardwood) in water which had 20 drops mixed and held for various times (8 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours).

So far it appears that those that were soaked for 18-24 hours rooted the best. But, I have found soft wood cuttings soaked for 12 hours did exceedingly well. It also appears that soaking longer than 24 hours has had a detrimental affect and those cuttings did not take as well (30-40%).

I have observed that after the cuttings had been struck into a rooting medium bud break and new growth occurred very quickly (1 - 2 weeks) which did not happen under ordinary practice. It would appear that CB-FVR speeds cell division sooner.

For all the cuttings I used a mild rooting hormone (Stim Root #1). Rooting media was treated with Benomyl prior to planting and cuttings were sprayed once after planting. During the routine process the solution which the cuttings were soaked in was saved and dumped into a sprayer. Twice per week all cuttings were sprayed with the CB-FVR solution.

Doing this I found that I have had to use no fungicide at all for the 6-week duration, except the treating of rooting media and once after planting cuttings.

It should be noted that these cuttings that were taken during a later time of the season when cuttings do not root well.

John Gawron
Sylvan Roses

(Original documents are on file at EcoChem)