Possibly dead BC

I want to change out the tarp for the 50% shade cloth as the smaller tree is ready but concerned it could negatively impact the larger.

Wdy guys think?
 
Thank you, I’ve taken the advice regarding watching and waiting just want to make sure I have them set up properly so the waiting is beneficial.
Once I decide on the level of sun exposure I plan to water, watch and wait.

I did have a friend who manages a grow house recommend using root hormone. I thought this was applied directly to the roots while potting but he said it can be added to the soil at anytime and they see big changes in the plants they use it on that seem to be struggling.

Aside from those things, I plan on leaving them alone.
 
I want to change out the tarp for the 50% shade cloth as the smaller tree is ready but concerned it could negatively impact the larger.

Wdy guys think?
QUIT MESSING AROUND WITH THEM. YOU WILL KILL THEM WITH SUCH CLOSE ATTENTION and worrying. They will do much better if simply watered when needed and LEFT ALONE probably for a year at least.
 
Thank you, I’ve taken the advice regarding watching and waiting just want to make sure I have them set up properly so the waiting is beneficial.
Once I decide on the level of sun exposure I plan to water, watch and wait.

I did have a friend who manages a grow house recommend using root hormone. I thought this was applied directly to the roots while potting but he said it can be added to the soil at anytime and they see big changes in the plants they use it on that seem to be struggling.

Aside from those things, I plan on leaving them alone.
Rooting hormone on the roots is mostly useless. Rooting hormone chemically "tells" tissues to be root tissue. Applying it to existing roots is redundant and useless. They already "know" they're root tissues. Over application of rooting hormones can actually INHIBIT root production. Rooting hormones are most useful on top growth tissues that AREN'T roots, like around the trunk in airlayers, or on branch cuttings.

Applying it to the soil is a waste of time, as any effective concentration (IF the roots could use it) would be extremely diluted by the time it got to the roots. Your friends may be talking about Superthrive--which is billed as a "tonic" for plants that includes hormones. It's a scam.

Just leave the tree be. Keep it watered.

FWIW, I'd put it in a place that gets four hours of morning sun and afternoon shade if you're worried about sun exposure at this point
 
Rooting hormone on the roots is mostly useless. Rooting hormone chemically "tells" tissues to be root tissue. Applying it to existing roots is redundant and useless. They already "know" they're root tissues. Over application of rooting hormones can actually INHIBIT root production. Rooting hormones are most useful on top growth tissues that AREN'T roots, like around the trunk in airlayers, or on branch cuttings.

Applying it to the soil is a waste of time, as any effective concentration (IF the roots could use it) would be extremely diluted by the time it got to the roots. Your friends may be talking about Superthrive--which is billed as a "tonic" for plants that includes hormones. It's a scam.

Just leave the tree be. Keep it watered.

FWIW, I'd put it in a place that gets four hours of morning sun and afternoon shade if you're worried about sun exposure at this point
Thanks @rockm, these are the first trees I really care about so trying to make sure they don’t die from lack of trying.

I didn’t change out the tarp today after reading suggestions to leave them alone. I haven’t narrowed down a spot that gets exclusively morning light so plan to leave them be until it’s clear they are suffering due to lack of sun then I will change the tarp to the shade cloth.

Appreciate the help!
 
You could put them in full sun and they wouldnt care, at least thats what I do. Maybe the sun is more intense where you are, I'm up in the panhandle and I've never shaded a collected BC. Just put them on the bench with everything else. It does take a while to start budding out the first year.
 
I live in Zone
You could put them in full sun and they wouldnt care, at least thats what I do. Maybe the sun is more intense where you are, I'm up in the panhandle and I've never shaded a collected BC. Just put them on the bench with everything else. It does take a while to start budding out the first year.
I’m in Zone 10 and tried this when the smaller tree’s buds opened. They went from the dark green color they were before to a yellow/pale color in a day. I moved it back into the tarp covered area and they have the dark green color back again.

Hoping the larger tree is just taking its time. The green buds give me hope.
 
Woke up this morning to excellent news.
The larger of the two I collected has 2 new buds near the trunk chop point which gives me confidence it’s alive besides the stump. The smaller tree seems to be doing great.
I decided to create kind of a multi stage greenhouse, back half is covered with a tarp so nearly full shade and front half is 50% shade cloth.
Thanks to those who had the wisdom to tell me to chill and wait!
 

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Woke up this morning to excellent news.
The larger of the two I collected has 2 new buds near the trunk chop point which gives me confidence it’s alive besides the stump. The smaller tree seems to be doing great.
I decided to create kind of a multi stage greenhouse, back half is covered with a tarp so nearly full shade and front half is 50% shade cloth.
Thanks to those who had the wisdom to tell me to chill and wait!
Excellent!
Now you can plan to introduce them to a little more sun.
 
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Excellent!
Now you can plan to introduce them to a little more sun.
Would you move the smaller out of the shade cloth and pull the larger into it’s place?

Everything is going well so I’ve been hesitant to change the set up as the last time I moved the smaller into full sun the foliage turned from dark green to pale/kind of yellow and has since recovered after moving it back to shade
 
Would you move the smaller out of the shade cloth and pull the larger into it’s place?

Everything is going well so I’ve been hesitant to change the set up as the last time I moved the smaller into full sun the foliage turned from dark green to pale/kind of yellow and has since recovered after moving it back to shade
Not for another 2 weeks
 
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If there is no green, it's a goner, sorry. I would, however, not throw it out just yet. I usually wait until early summer before I am certain a tree is dead. keep watering, see what happens. If nothing does, you've learned a lesson or two about what works for collecting and what doesn't.
I second this advice. I had a BC I thought was dead last spring. It didn't push any growth for over a month after the other 3 BC I have started showing green. The only reason I didn't stop watering & dump it was laziness. The top 6" of the trunk and a few branches did die off, but it ultimately pushed out very vigorous growth.

For context - all 4 of my trees were 1" thick, 2-3 foot tall saplings. I got them bare root at the same time, from the same source, and were given the same potting conditions.

Don't give up yet!
 
Woke up this morning to excellent news.
The larger of the two I collected has 2 new buds near the trunk chop point which gives me confidence it’s alive besides the stump. The smaller tree seems to be doing great.
I decided to create kind of a multi stage greenhouse, back half is covered with a tarp so nearly full shade and front half is 50% shade cloth.
Thanks to those who had the wisdom to tell me to chill and wait!
Glad you're seeing signs of life!
 
Would you move the smaller out of the shade cloth and pull the larger into it’s place?

Everything is going well so I’ve been hesitant to change the set up as the last time I moved the smaller into full sun the foliage turned from dark green to pale/kind of yellow and has since recovered after moving it back to shade
if it ain't broke don't fix it.
 
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