Aeroponic propagation of JM cuttings

[Sootys trees]

to update, the cuttings out of the propagator and in soil outside in a clear tub are looking pretty much the same apart from a few which have new leaves that are hardening and darkening in colour.

The 50/50 perlite and coco coir was kind of loose and getting on the dry side so I gave a light water and applied some organic fertiliser, I mist maybe once a day and I’m beginning to leave the lip off for long periods.

The Chinese elms have definitely took very well, extending new growth twice their original size, also a dawn redwood cutting is getting new buds, but other than a few most the maples are not doing much other than stems slightly swelling and the buds…

Does anyone with experience in maple cuttings know of how long new growth usually takes ? Or if it’s essential for them to develop new growth in order to survive winter etc ? Or do cuttings sometimes only produce new growth the following year ?
I’m just concerned they may die if they don’t show any vigour this year…

I do actually have many other cuttings inside that are under a sf600 grow light, in a humidity dome.
The light produces 10,000 lumens and is full spectrum, well in the seedling, young plant and even flowering ranges dependent on distance.
The cutting under this are pulling back very well and are producing nice buds under the petioles…
I may transfer some from outside to inside and vice versa…

From cuttings this year, these elm already takes full sun all day but are under 40% cloth from mid day

These elms began to dry in the sun so back in the box but are still alive and growing new leaves


These are indoors under the light, some even had roots before I planted them, most look good, roots too most likely

 

[Sootys trees]

Elm has come on well, I’m surprised


New growth on maples

 

[Sootys trees]

This yew took ages to root but is now outside, has new growth too


A forsythia from outside too


Apologies for the mixed updates, I have so many cuttings on the go and so busy ! But so exciting to make new plants…

Hawthorn ; propagator

 

[Sootys trees]

Today, I checked some of the Japanese maple cuttings and a Fuji cherry cutting that have been outside in the shade under a humidity dome for a couple of months

I appreciate the advice is not to do this until spring or at least late fall or winter, but to save me from the disappointment of having none make it through winter and leaf out next year (which they still might not ) I thought why not check the roots and see what’s happening… plus, I have many others that I’m leaving undisturbed… the results are good

Maples JM - I’m not overly concerned about the dry leaves as fall is approaching fast and the buds look very good for next year, I also think repotting these was actually a good idea as the stems looks as though they need some air and to harden up a bit
They’re been raised much higher in the pot and roots spread out, very carefully


Fuji cherry ; kojo no mai - this surprised me, i have nursed this from a tiny root system that took in a dark warm shed and the roots look great now

 

[Sootys trees]

update,
Many cuttings seemed to have perished in the past month or so from getting to damp, maybe they would have pulled through but I’d rather just keep the solid growers and ditch any maybes.
when the cuttings are very small or you have forced roots initially through aeroponics and synthetic hormones, some of them just don’t want to continue to grow once they are on their own in natural conditions…
That said I have many which have continued to grow larger and thrive ! So for me it’s a success and a good learning experience…

Cultivar cuttings seem to be the more difficult to root regarding acers, most the ones that are still growing now are standard acer.
I’ll definitely leave the cuttings in the aeroponic system for longer next year until there are more elongated roots.
In terms of position I was using a plastic tub in the shade where as now I have a green house that gets morning sun and then shade most the day and also gets really warm, so that will help next time…

I have a really strange cutting which I transplanted from the propagator and left inside under a full spectrum lamp, it’s a ‘phoenix’ variety… the strange thing is this cutting seems to have some kind of flower, maybe it’s stressed or something or the 17 hours of full spectrum light has helped produce flowers ? I’ll show a picture.

To conclude though, I believe the cuttings where fine initially but they seemed to suffer from root problems, I think this is because water roots can be touchy when put into substrate without artificial light or continuous heat …
Next time I’ll grow the cuttings on inside under lamps in substrate and then put outside in the greenhouse for the remainder of the season…
Straight from the propagator to the outside is 50/50 for me, as there are too many changes in light, heat, air flow and of course root conditions…

As mentioned though I have a handful of healthy JM cuttings that have made it, so it’s been a success… well let’s see if they wake up next year then it’s a success, it’s looking like they will.

Also i have to say successful aeroponic propagation vs the normal propagation method is most likely to produce the same or similar results, plus the traditional method has the benefit of not have to disturb or transplant the cutting at all which is very beneficial, it also saves a lot of time of effort, but, I really enjoy the process so I’ll continue to do both moving forward…

This post is getting really long ! But lastly I’m also going to try taking healthy new shoots and propagating them indoors under a full spectrum lamp using the traditional method in substrate…
I do in fact have many hinoki cypress and juniper cuttings im trying this with now (as well as outside) so I’ll post results if it works.

Anyway here’s the flowery JM

 

[MaxChavez]

update,
Many cuttings seemed to have perished in the past month or so from getting to damp, maybe they would have pulled through but I’d rather just keep the solid growers and ditch any maybes.
when the cuttings are very small or you have forced roots initially through aeroponics and synthetic hormones, some of them just don’t want to continue to grow once they are on their own in natural conditions…
That said I have many which have continued to grow larger and thrive ! So for me it’s a success and a good learning experience…

Cultivar cuttings seem to be the more difficult to root regarding acers, most the ones that are still growing now are standard acer.
I’ll definitely leave the cuttings in the aeroponic system for longer next year until there are more elongated roots.
In terms of position I was using a plastic tub in the shade where as now I have a green house that gets morning sun and then shade most the day and also gets really warm, so that will help next time…

I have a really strange cutting which I transplanted from the propagator and left inside under a full spectrum lamp, it’s a ‘phoenix’ variety… the strange thing is this cutting seems to have some kind of flower, maybe it’s stressed or something or the 17 hours of full spectrum light has helped produce flowers ? I’ll show a picture.

To conclude though, I believe the cuttings where fine initially but they seemed to suffer from root problems, I think this is because water roots can be touchy when put into substrate without artificial light or continuous heat …
Next time I’ll grow the cuttings on inside under lamps in substrate and then put outside in the greenhouse for the remainder of the season…
Straight from the propagator to the outside is 50/50 for me, as there are too many changes in light, heat, air flow and of course root conditions…

As mentioned though I have a handful of healthy JM cuttings that have made it, so it’s been a success… well let’s see if they wake up next year then it’s a success, it’s looking like they will.

Also i have to say successful aeroponic propagation vs the normal propagation method is most likely to produce the same or similar results, plus the traditional method has the benefit of not have to disturb or transplant the cutting at all which is very beneficial, it also saves a lot of time of effort, but, I really enjoy the process so I’ll continue to do both moving forward…

This post is getting really long ! But lastly I’m also going to try taking healthy new shoots and propagating them indoors under a full spectrum lamp using the traditional method in substrate…
I do in fact have many hinoki cypress and juniper cuttings im trying this with now (as well as outside) so I’ll post results if it works.

Anyway here’s the flowery JM

View attachment 568861

I also lost a fair amount transplanting outdoors. Although, I think a long heat wave this summer was a major factor.

It seems like there is potential for a helpful intermediate step indoors or covered. I think the challenge will be keeping high humidity but also airflow to prevent fungus. Maybe just outdoors with misters?

My two experiments with the cloner this year will be:
1. Hardwood cuttings, cool, open air top with 75degF reservoir water should have good root stimulation without fungal issues in wilting foliage.

2. Placing mini mesh baskets with lava/pumice in the cloner holes. Potentially stabilization and some pressure against the stem/root being beneficial

We'll see!

 

[Dan92119]

@Sootys trees please add your location or zone to your profile. Looks like you've got a good start. I've been playing with maple cuttings the last few years. Intermittent misting seems to have greatly improved my results. I took these about 1 month ago, dipped in clonex planted in vermiculite. Misting for 5 minutes every 6 hrs. That will be reduced soon. I don't really see any dead plants yet so fingers crossed. Cheap hose timer and a piece of plastic for makeshift greenhouse and voilà!View attachment 550672View attachment 550673

This is pretty much what I did, but with clear totes and a clear lid. I like using the vermiculite because it makes nice fine roots. Deshojo maples are really really easy to grow from cuttings and to air layer.