Reverse Bottle Propagation – Trial with 250 Bottles

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Hey everyone,

Over the next month, I’m aiming to collect and root around 250 cuttings from fallen trees, mostly stuff with good movement and decent trunk thickness.
I was inspired by two awesome posts:

• Rooting whole Japanese maple branches
• Mark Moreland Visit – Leics Bonsai Club

I wanted something fast, scalable, and with minimal daily attention – so I created this variation using water bottles I saved up all winter.

Most methods suggest cutting a bottle in half, adding a slit for drainage, filling the base with water, and placing the cutting above in a mix (See image 1 and 2). But with 250 bottles, cutting and slitting each one didn’t feel efficient.

So I flipped the design

Instead of slits, I simply removed the bottle caps, and placed a rock inside to weigh it down and keep the mix from falling out. This allows water to drain slowly and keeps the substrate intact (See image 3)

To ensure that the humidity from the water goes upwards we need a tight fit, so I stacked the bottles tight together by pushing them down against each other, but left a little space for the bottom reservoir.

The last image is all of them, took me about an hour and a half to do them all - next time I could definitely do it within an hour. My grandpa and I are really hopeful!

Tomorrow, I’ll fill them with a 80/20 mix of perlite and potting soil and begin inserting cuttings

Let me know what you think of this setup or if anyone’s tried something similar at this scale. I’ll update with results as the roots (hopefully) take off.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Today I planted the first batch of cuttings. Most of them are red maples (I believe), since they were the most accessible, but there’s also a mix of elm, mulberry, and a couple of unknown species with decent taper or branch structure.

Image 1 – Cuttings were soaked overnight in water after collection. You can kinda see their thickness

Image 2 – Brought the bottles outside for setup.

Image 3 – Mixed 1.5 bags of perlite with half a bag of potting soil. This is what I used as the rooting medium.

Originally, I was planning to use plastic bags to cover each bottle for humidity, but with over 200 bottles, that became impractical. I needed a faster solution that would make misting easier as well, so we used a plastic box.

Images 4 – My grandfather and I packed the bottles into large plastic boxes, fitting about 28 bottles per box. Simply filled the bottom reservoir with water and then we put the rock to prevent the mixture from falling under. For some of the thinner cuttings, I placed multiple cuttings in one bottle to save space. You can see the variation in trunk thickness in Image 5.

Image 6 – Covered the box with a clear plastic sheet and used bricks to weigh down the corners of the sheet. The boxes are placed in a semi-sunny location outdoors—bright but not full sun. I only had one box so the project right now is halted at just 28, though this week I will buy another 6.

I also collected more mulberry cuttings for the next round. They’re currently soaking in water and will be planted soon using the same method. Image 7

No rooting hormone for the thinner ones, unless their taper was really good, but the thicker ones did get enough rooting hormone

Now just a thought, once I see roots, I can simply just take the top half of the bottle and put it in a larger soil pot.

Gonna leave these alone for two weeks, let's see what happens!

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Planted some Mulberry and Elm cuttings today. These were sitting in water for a couple days


The bottles:


Cuttings:


The bucket:

 

[MalsRFun in TN]

Keep us updated. I have saved a lot of bottles and plan to try this too.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Planted Some Dogwood, Staghorn Sumac, Poplar, and others today



Next Week I'll open the first box (on the left) let some oxygen in and give an update:



Any suggestions for trees you want me to try?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

This is great! Did you try any conifers?

 

[Tahoebonsai]

Awesome! I came across this recently and am trying it myself with cuttings from a California mountain maple

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

This is great! Did you try any conifers?

Not yet; I have a ton of Pine, Spruce and Thuja on my property. I'll try that this week!

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

yesterday I opened the first tote from about 2 weeks ago

Here are the results:
3...
2...
1...

Success!!!





Summary:

• It seems that the thinner Red Maples are opening
  • Nothing from the thicker maples; perhaps because I didn't leave a shoot
    • however based on scratch test they are alive! I'm still hopeful
• The Elms, regardless of size are sprouting
• Larch seems to be sprouting as well

Seeing these results made my grandpa and I really happy; I am officially addicted haha(Thank you @eplov90)
The tote has been recovered; next update for this one in 2 weeks
Still have another tote that is full (update next week) and three buckets (update next week)

Today I tackled this elm that fell on my property; That Poplar took it down:



also found a random Birch that I pulled out; its still alive


Here's an example of the type of cutting my grandfather and I cut; stuff that would be respectable if it survives and shoots out
I also planted some cedar shoots and Pine shoots let's see what happens

I think I'll make this post larger; here are some really thick cuttings we collected in the process too:

I laid a plastic sheet under them and made a sort of dome out of it


Elm


Poplar


We then covered it with another plastic sheet; I planted these in potting soil because Perlite is expensive, rooting hormone was applied

The current problem with this method is that the plastic bottles set up takes too long, and wouldn't be worth it for the basic material;
Therefore I have another idea that takes the humidity principles of this and expands it so that I can plant more and faster.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

I’ve improved the reverse water bottle method using a simple setup with a milk crate and a tote.


I placed a net on the bottom of a milk crate and set it inside a large tote with bricks underneath to elevate it.



Filled the tote with water (up to just below the net level)



Planted all my cuttings in the crate.


Then covered the whole setup with a clear plastic sheet



The cuttings now benefit from consistent bottom humidity and heat created by the enclosed environment.
The whole process took me less than 15 minutes to set up and plant everything.
Way faster and more efficient than my old approach

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

I checked one of the totes today and I'm a little confused. Are these Red Maples dying?

The buds opened but they look a little rough.

Any advice would help because I was going to go collect more red maples tomorrow - Do you think that there is too much humidity? Does it look fine? Should I go collect more?

I love maples and so I was a little bummed - might be overthinking though - also the larger maples didn't sprout anything yet, but a scratch test proved they are alive - More photos tomorrow of the older cuttings

 

[caffeinated]

Cuttings can often start growing buds just from the energy / sugars stored in the branch, before any roots start forming. These could just be running out of steam, but I don't know that it means they won't root. I'd keep 'em covered a while longer. May possibly be a fungal issue too since it's an enclosed warm wet environment. Spraying with some diluted hydrogen peroxide can help with that.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Cuttings can often start growing buds just from the energy / sugars stored in the branch, before any roots start forming. These could just be running out of steam, but I don't know that it means they won't root. I'd keep 'em covered a while longer. May possibly be a fungal issue too since it's an enclosed warm wet environment. Spraying with some diluted hydrogen peroxide can help with that.

Yes you’re absolutely right. When I opened it my grandpa kept telling me I need to be patient and wait a bit longer. I mean the trees around us have barely began budding. I’m motivated again.
Going to collect more today!

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

A milk crate of thinner red Maples, and a few nice Mulberry Cuttings - need more variety tho





Not gonna open any totes for the next two weeks - let the humidity do its thing

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

My final batch of cuttings - probably won't do more this season; unless someone wants me to try something in particular

I ran out of totes and I didn't want to buy a new one; I use these milk crates that I got for free, I have like 5 more left

instead, I used a black garbage bag, carefully put two bricks inside (didn't want it to rip), and put some water


Then I planted some maples, Lilacs, and buncha dogwoods


Sealed the whole thing with a clear plastic bag; the humidity should rise from the bottom


Here's a thick dogwood I am experimenting with; let's see if it leafs out - I cut it in half btw


Tomorrow I'll open the first tote from this forum, I wanna hopefully see some rooting.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

It's been about a month since I planted the first tote:

The results aren't bad at all; However one issue I have to deal with is that the bottom is full of fungus. Though once the roots settle in better I will remove them clean up the tote and put them back in


Too my surprise one red maple is sprouting!

Lilac:



The second tote that was black and had a little less water, did really well; notice that the dogwoods, sumac, poplar are all sprouting


I was trying to see if there were any roots, it's still too early and my grandpa suggested that even if they are they would be so thin you'd destroy them by moving it

Overall good results, what do you guys think?

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Here's an update:

The second tote that flowering sumac, dogwood, elms and poplar is doing surprisingly well. I haven't checked for roots but I have a really good feeling.
The only real concern I have is regarding the water level, which next week I might just empty out the whole box and keep the most minimal amount of water.


The first tote was the one that I was most concerned about;
The bottom of the tote is full of algae, and look the water levels are way to high. Due to heavy rain and wind, the plastic tore and water entered; the tote was flooded


Basically I took the trees that were leafing out and put them in this black tote, and added no extra water. I think that the moisture from the soil and the water bottle reservoir should be enough to keep it alive, but also dry out a little.


Here are those really thick elm cuttings; they have leafed out, but its still too early to know; I placed cut open water bottles full of water to keep moisture levels high, and then wrapped them in plastic sheets in a semi shaded area.


BTW look at this thick elms I dug out; separated the one on the left


Wish them luck, took me almost 1 and a half hour to get them out.


I must say its still about 12-17 degrees here in Uxbridge Ontario. Its too cold and the plants need the heat to really thrive. I had 2 days of 20 degrees weather and in those two days all these cuttings pushed the new leaf growth. This week is choppy as well, cloudy and cold. Next week it gets warmer that's when I'll be more active.

Also I moved on the property 6 months ago and so my dad is getting all the trees cleared off, specifically the fallen Mulberry, random elms, and poplars. I need to figure out a way to take cuttings on a large scale. I have one idea so far which is making a wooden box with a water reservoir in the bottom.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

The Second tote was full of water:



Emptied it, removed the dead ones:



I think my biggest challenge is making sure the bottom of the water bottles don't fill up with too much water
I haven't opened any of the other ones yet; I want to wait another week as this week the temperature is in the 20s - I see a lot of leaves pushing up on the plastic

 

[Attmos]

The Second tote was full of water:

View attachment 600865

Emptied it, removed the dead ones:

View attachment 600866

I think my biggest challenge is making sure the bottom of the water bottles don't fill up with too much water
I haven't opened any of the other ones yet; I want to wait another week as this week the temperature is in the 20s - I see a lot of leaves pushing up on the plastic

Are they in complete darkness...? I didn't wee what you're covering them with.. clear plastic or a solid cover?

 

[leatherback]

I am following this, but I am sceptical to be honest. But maybe red maples root a lot better than maples I see here.