The stem had sealed, as the cutting had been left in the sun for too long-- I stupidly used kitchen scissors to cut it before placing it in water. :[ After viewing the lack of progress, in a few hours time I used a razor blade across the stem--- then put it back into the cup of water- much better results! Currently I'm growing an anthurium, an aloe, a 25 year old hibiscus (needs to brought in for a florist to fix--woody, very poor growth, no flowers

-- two very slow-growing haworthia, basil, and my favorite: my grafted cereus cactus

It's deep green with spikes, with a grey/white graft with red/purple along the ribs. Looking forward to getting better lighting for my plants, their color isn't good-- my province is too cloudy most of the time.
I like the jade tree, the man standing next too it looks very proud/awed

Here's a cactus nursery picture of my current favorite.