Plumeria cuttings and stem rot help please?

Question

i tried planting my 12" plumeria cutting two weeks ago-

3/4 perlite 1/4 cactus soil in 1 gallon pot- root hormone- full sunlight- water once after planting into pot.

but today i notice that some of the stems were rotting, so i cut off the rotting bottom- leaving me 9" cuttings.

i plan on letting them dry out for a week before replanting them again.

will i be able to start over with my 9" cuttings? what cause them to rot? (since i only water once).

thank you for your help.

Answer 1

rooting homone... too much of it causes your cuttings to rot at the bottom..... when using it, a little is plenty.... more isn't better..... wet the end of the cutting, and shake it off... no drips!.... put a little hormone powder on a surface and roll the end of the cutting in it.... then TAP IT BACK OFF A LITTLE... there should be only a 'dusting' of the powder left on the cutting... open a  hole in the soil in the pot with a pencil, gently put the cutting into the hole without rubbing off the hormone , then , from the sides, push the soil up against the cutting.... keep the soil moist and the whole deal warm.... (what do you mean by 'I only water once'...?????... the soil must be kept moist for quite a while!.. a few weeks at least)

the caution about clean, sterile soil is great, too....

Answer 2

fungus or bacteria cause rot.  Try sterilizing your rooting soil before planting by putting in oven at 200 degrees for a couple minutes.  Let it cool before planting.  Use distilled water for the first couple waterings to be sure there is no chlorine to inhibit new roots.  You might give the stem a quick wipe with rubbing alcohol then rinse with distilled water to make sure it is clean of disease.  I would not put it in FULL sun untill it shows growth.  Partial sun would be plenty.