I learned a new phrase today: Herbaceous Stem Cuttings. That should go in my glossary. My mission today was to find some petunias to put in the one AeroGarden mini that I was able to bring when we moved yet again, as I haven't had time to sow any seedlings, and needed a plant fix.
Apparently, petunias are not in season here in the Palm Desert, but I did invest $3.50 in a beautiful pot of Calibrachoa:
I didn't recognize the name Calibrachoa, and have never grown this kind of plant before, so I wasn't sure if it would root from cuttings until I got home to check up on it online. Missouri Botanical Garden has a web page stating that it ""must be vegetatively propagated." Bingo! Herbacious (aka soft-stem or vegetative) cuttings are what we used to call "slips" back on the farm.
So I put them in a glass of water next to some basil and grape tomato cuttings, both of which should be well rooted inside of 5 days. It will be interesting to see how long the Million Bells cuttings will take to root. A few comments on different gardening forums discouraged trying to root them in water, but as I am interested in knowing if they can be grown hydroponically, we shall see.
Here is the MBG page: Missouri Botanical Garden
Denver Plants has a good page on Million Bells too: Denver Plants
They point out that it is illegal to propagate Millions Bells, saying that they are "patented hybrid plants." A note on the proprietary stuff is here.