Thanks guys, think both of your replies actually answer one of the two parts of question. Paphio's is for cutting the plant against the woody stem, and Alcran's is from the growth tip problem.
Alcan, I take it that what you are saying is that if the plant is already stressed, that the cutting will just die anyway if we did a cutting to save it? And as you said that any root will actually help?
One thing, what if the roots are all dried up or cut, would it be easier for the plant to root from a cutting than from the an established but damaged root area? hmmm!
TTFN
Arvin