Japanese Stewartia

[bwaynef]

I've got it in my head that Stewartia are difficult to airlayer. I don't know that for a fact, but I'd look into it before I started an airlayer.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I've got it in my head that Stewartia are difficult to airlayer. I don't know that for a fact, but I'd look into it before I started an airlayer.

I was thinking the same thing, if they can't live from cuttings air layers can't be that easy either

 

[bwaynef]

I was thinking the same thing, if they can't live from cuttings air layers can't be that easy either

I've seen lots of resources indicating they can be grown from cuttings. I have a bunch of seedlings I'm growing this year, ...or I'd have tried to see if I could coax roots out of some of the clippings.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I've seen lots of resources indicating they can

Perhaps it's monadelpha that can't be propagated through cuttings?? Thanks for the correction.

 

[JudyB]

I do not have experience with air layering these, but as vigorous as they are, I'd think they would do ok. That is something that I would definitely ask around about before trying on this tree. Or try an air layer on a branch on this tree that would be taken off anyway. I know that @Owen Reich knows these trees well, maybe he can help out here.

 

[Emotter1984]

I’m kind of thinking about keeping it as a larger bonsai now.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I’m kind of thinking about keeping it as a larger bonsai now.

I would agree with this plan. In the spring, find the base’s best front and planting depth, and build the tree from there. It can handle lots of work in the growing season, as they are pretty vigorous growers. I would definitely remove that low first branch, and hopefully the best base puts that cut wound to the back.

 

[JudyB]

I’m kind of thinking about keeping it as a larger bonsai now.

Sounds like the best plan for now, you can always change it in future, but hard to change it back!

 

[Emotter1984]

Put it in a large wooden box I made today. I need to work on the soil to make it more acidic.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

You gonna kill it.

 

[Emotter1984]

You gonna kill it.

Wow, thanks that was super helpful.

 

[Emotter1984]

You gonna kill it.

What should I do differently?

 

[MrWunderful]

What should I do differently?

Not have repotted it in the fall, most likely. The move from a nursery pot is usually the hardest on a tree, and generally that is done in spring. If you get harsh winters I hope you can protect the roots.

 

[JudyB]

I think that he’s trying o speak to the fact that this is the wrong time of year for this type of heavy work. I could be wrong about his intent, but I would have to say that I would not do something this intensive to the root system.
Maybe you could put your locaction in your profile at some point too.

 

[Emotter1984]

Even if I slip potted it?

 

[JudyB]

I think that he’s trying o speak to the fact that this is the wrong time of year for this type of heavy work. I could be wrong about his intent, but I would have to say that I would not do something this intensive to the root system.
Maybe you could put your locaction in your profile at some point too.

 

[Emotter1984]

I didn’t do anything to the roots, I took the entire rootball out and put it in the box and then filled it with a mix of pine bark, garden soil and perlite.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wow, thanks that was super helpful.

What should I do differently?

My first post could have been super helpful, and outlines exactly what I would have done differently:

I would agree with this plan. In the spring, find the base’s best front and planting depth, and build the tree from there. It can handle lots of work in the growing season, as they are pretty vigorous growers. I would definitely remove that low first branch, and hopefully the best base puts that cut wound to the back.

So my question for you is this:
What are you planning to gain by slip-potting it into an oversized box, using super heavy soil, while the tree is dormant?

 

[atlarsenal]

@Hack Yeah! @bwaynef according to Michael Dirr the cuttings will root but he cannot get them to survive overwintering.

 

[Owen Reich]

I’d first get it out of nursery media and make sure roots are healthy. I topped all of mine from about 15-20’ to 3-4’, partially bare-rooted, and potted in free draining (3-4” large lava) but slightly more moisture retentive (50% Happy Frog blended mix) and 50% medium pumice.

Stewartia of all species are prone to fungal infection when pot bound in nursery mix.

This one I’m keeping, and I ripped the roots off the base knowing they will heal over like Serve Pro.... like it never even happened.