Hot-box, germinating, callousing box update

The first flight of cuttings were moved out four days after "sticking" them.

I pulled one of the Crack Willow cuttings this morning and the bottom half-inch was swollen with callous and there were some bumps that looked like root-initials.

I placed the cell-pack into a tray which I placed on top of another warming mat which was, in turn, on top of a 1-1/2" slab of foam. Then I added water to the tray to soak the bottom 1/2" of the cells. Willows can stand a LOT of water.

After an hour, I took a temperature reading in our 58F degree basement and the top of the cells was only 64 degrees. Not good enough.

I found a clear plastic garbage bag and put it over the tops of the cuttings like a blanket. That should help hold in the heat and humidity.

The next "flight" of cuttings are elderberries.

I took elderberry extract when I had the flu and Mrs ERJ did not. I recovered more quickly. Maybe it helped. Maybe it didn't. Elderberries, like willow, can grow in very wet places and do not require hormones to root. I plan to leave them in the box for a week. 

Bonus video

This should have gone with the last post but I have many readers who don't go back.

 One of the vloggers in Ukraine fertilizing his field with manure. 20 minutes long. You can skip ahead to the 4:35 mark and not miss much.