Hello,

I am new to this forum and I am trying to propagate wax myrtle and florida sunshine from softwood cuttings. I am taking 3-4" of the softwood and have tried using rooting powder and rooting gel with no success. I have a large humidity dome that I am trying to propagate these in. I have heard of air layering but I prefer cuttings. Is there something else I should try with cuttings?

Thanks!
Sandra

I've never grown either but according to my propagation books:

Illicium parviflorum: Semi-hardwood terminal cuttings taken in July to late August. Use 3000 ppm IBA quick dip. Pot in peat/perlite (1:1), use mist. Should root in 4 - 5 weeks.

I couldn't find anything about Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera). But if softwood cuttings aren't working, try semi-hardwood now and hardwood this winter.

Re wax myrtle...
If these shrubs are at your house... I would attempt transplanting the babies that are sent out in attempted colonization.

As above, not sure this plant is a good candidate for taking cuttings...
I usually allowed them to get large and would cut to the ground every 4 or 5 years to control.... and this made the suckers available for transplant.

That was when I was in the clay...
Here in the sand?
I keep planting them, but they don't thrive, eventually perishing after 4 or 5 years of barely clinging to life.

Anise bush has a suckering habit too...
Plus...
Layering works very well to get additional shrubs.
When I potted up a bunch of those rooted stems, I had nice looking specimens to set out after several months of being in large pots.