Help !
I am trying to root my hardy hibiscus cuttings - been trying for a long time.. It's a monrovia hardy variety, not sure exactly which one, but it gets purple-ish and green leaves and stems. The stems don't grow much bigger than 1in diameter. Online they look similar to the midnight marvel type.

this is probably my 20th cutting. I have previously tried to root using the rooting hormone in potting soil and water and almost always the leaves dried and fell off in a week and the cutting died eventually.
This time I am trying something different. Got 3 semi-mature and 8-10 inch long cuttings (that's all i could manage because the parent is suffering heavily from sawfly due to neglect as I no longer live there).
I used a 50-50 mix of potting soil and organic perlite and planted them, covering them in saran wrap. Upon advice of other garden.org veterans, I didn't use rooting hormone this time. I saw that 2 of the caterpillars managed to come with the cutting and almost ate 50% of one leaf before I killed them. I also sprayed a mix of neem oil+water to prevent these pests and mold etc.
It's been a week now, the leaves still look okay so it's good news, but I'm seeing some white stuff on it. I have added a picture as an example. It's on one of the branches here, but I see it on some other leaves and branches too.. No idea if it's mold/mildew/fungus as i'm a complete noob at this. What should I do? If i open up the saran wrap, I fear the leaves will die out.
It's my last set of cuttings and I really want them to root.

Nip off the dying end and spray with 1 part rubing acholo/2 parts water, just a lite spray. Or paint brush the areas
with mold. To wet?? Do you have a fan for air circulation? Strip off the leaves!!! You just want the stalk at this point, the roots will come back. Or you can send to me what is left of the plant and I'll try to root for you. Glad to see you are still trying to root, you will get the hang of it if you keep trying.

Hi! Thanks for replying! YOu're the veteran i was talking about in my post :D
maybe i don't know the science behind cuttings, but if I strip off the leaves will the stalk not die due to lack of photosynthesis or nutrition?

One bad thing happened.. I didn't have rubbing alcohol, so I sprayed neem oil+water and wiped off the mildew. Then I opened up the saran wrap yesterday afternoon from the top for some circulation, but this morning I realized that the leaves on the bigger stalks have drooped suddenly. I put the wrap back on, maybe I'll puncture some holes instead of opening it wide.

I also have a home humidifier, it ejects cool moist air, wondering if i put it in the wrap, will it count as fresh air circulation? It might also prevent it from drying off.
I know you're based in California... will the cuttings survive the shipment if I send them to you?

Sent you tree mail.

thanks. will take a look.. since i already planted them, i'll see for some time if they root..
do you think a humidifier would work better?