Reverse Sap Flow?

[thumblessprimate1]

I don't get much of what you folks are saying, but it seems like a good discussion.

 

[Gene Deci]

Many years ago I recruited my (then) teenage son to help me plant a few hundred ivy cuttings. We just took a screw driver, poked a hole in the dirt and stuck the cutting in. Either out of carelessness or rebellion he put many of his in upside down. They "took" and started growing as well as the properly planted ones. The new shoots came out growing downwards which is how I first noticed it. Ivy isn't trees but reverse sap flow does happen.

 

[coh]

Many years ago I recruited my (then) teenage son to help me plant a few hundred ivy cuttings. We just took a screw driver, poked a hole in the dirt and stuck the cutting in. Either out of carelessness or rebellion he put many of his in upside down. They "took" and started growing as well as the properly planted ones. The new shoots came out growing downwards which is how I first noticed it. Ivy isn't trees but reverse sap flow does happen.

Did the "upside down" cuttings survive long term, or did they expire once they'd used up their stored energy? Interesting if they did
survive...

 

[Gene Deci]

Did the "upside down" cuttings survive long term, or did they expire once they'd used up their stored energy? Interesting if they did
survive...

To the best of my knowledge all of them survived, the upside down ones as well as the right side up ones. Today it is a roughly 20 x 40 foot dense patch of ivy. It would be bigger but I cut it back.

 

[wireme]

Did the "upside down" cuttings survive long term, or did they expire once they'd used up their stored energy? Interesting if they did
survive...

I've seen large cuttings of willow, cottonwood and dogwood grow and survive long term after being planted upside down if that helps the discussion, thousands of them.

 

[coh]

I think it certainly does help! In fact, I was thinking of doing some experiments with willow cuttings in the spring, since they root so easily.

There was another thread not too long ago where someone was claiming that they could get 2 root grafts out of one seedling. If I recall correctly, they would thread it through the root to get the usual root graft on one side, then on the other side they'd bury part of the branch and get it to root...then separate to get a "root" on that side as well. Not sure if I'm remembering that exactly right, will have to see if I can find it.

Found it: http://bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/turning-shoots-to-roots.20402/

 

[wireme]

I think it certainly does help! In fact, I was thinking of doing some experiments with willow cuttings in the spring, since they root so easily.

There was another thread not too long ago where someone was claiming that they could get 2 root grafts out of one seedling. If I recall correctly, they would thread it through the root to get the usual root graft on one side, then on the other side they'd bury part of the branch and get it to root...then separate to get a "root" on that side as well. Not sure if I'm remembering that exactly right, will have to see if I can find it.

Yeah, I worked for many years in the field of bioengineering, using live material for structural support of steep erosion prone sites, revegetating contaminated and disturbed industrial sites, riverbank protection etc..,
Mostly using large to very large willow,cottonwood and red osier dogwood cuttings. I've seen lots planted unintentionally upside down by new dyslexic labourers. We did some trials too to see if it affected survival rates. Small trials and somewhat inconclusive I'd say but they most definitely can take and grow when planted upside down.