For future reference:
Cuttings that are “topped off” like that never grow as nicely as a properly-taken cutting. A topped-off cutting comes from the end of a stem, where the stem is thinner/smaller and more delicate, and there is only one active growing region – the apex/tip of the stem. Also, the large leaves place stress on a plant that doesn’t yet have a well-developed root system.
A proper cutting will be taken from further down on the stem, where the stem is large and tough. All large leaves will be removed. And such a cutting has two active growing regions per node: Two nodes will yield 4 healthy branches.
See the attached photo of some cuttings I took just yesterday:
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salvia_cuttings.jpg
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