Pear Cuttings: Why Leaves Blackened and Whether to Wait

Mike's August pear cuttings lost their leaves within a week. Don't discard them yet—leaf drop doesn't mean death.

What Happened

• Late summer cuttings face heat stress and transpiration loss.
• Leaves often shrivel and fall while the cutting calluses and roots below.
• Rooting hormone (Rootone) is essential—did you use it?

Action Plan

1. Keep soil moist but not soggy at 70–75°F (21–24°C).
2. Wait 8+ weeks total before checking.
3. At 6 more weeks, gently probe near the base with a pencil to check for white roots.
4. If no roots by then, start fresh with new cuttings in optimal season (late spring/early summer).

Patience is the propagator's greatest tool. Many woody cuttings look dead before they root.