What is affecting my cuttings

I did root cuttings on two Fuzzy Kiwi and they seem to show some deficiency.  I also have what looks like a similar problem with a Schisandra plant I bought last fall.  
Is this a sign of Potassium deficiency?  I used Espoma GardenTone on these a month ago but that did not seem to help.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.  TIA

When i take cuttings, usually they lose the leaves after a bit. I have this theory, don't know if it is backed by science, the plant notices it has a lot more evaporation than incoming moisture, notices it has no roots, shuts down it's biggest evaporators, the big leaves and pulls back energy out of them to use for growing roots. Sometimes it works fine, the small leaves get bigger after a stabilization period. Sometimes they even lose the small leaves. If they come back in the case of losing the small leaves, it's going to be a slow start.
Sometimes they die. It's a matter of luck as well, so i guess the more you try the better.
In summer i put them in a shaded spot that only receives dappled light, in winter if they have leaves in partial sun.
Most of my winter cuttings do not have leaves at all, i just stick them in the ground, 150 cassis berries this year, a 100 willows a 100 figs a 100 rosemary etc.
No chemicals, no hormones, no special treatment, in a bad batch 25% lives but usually more.
I have no luck with growing kiwis so far, and schizandra i put in the garden only last year.
My neighbour has taken some cuttings from a succesfull kiwi this summer she found on a walk, so maybe i get lucky in a few years time.

 

Thanks for the feedback.  I started these cuttings several months ago in a misting bench I built.  These have already rooted and one has already sprouted new leaves.  
The Male Kiwi was more of a leaf cutting and has lasted this long but seems to struggle. I only recently put a twig under the leaf to lift it off the soil thinking it might be having problems with mold or something along that line.
The Schisandra was bought off Ebay and the other (I bought 2) is doing fine.  
Since it seems to be browning on the edges I was thinking a nutritional supplement would help but not sure what kind.