Zelkova from Cuttings

[cmeg1]

A couple of these will be going into 3 gallon ROOTPOUCH pots on an inverted saucer,without cutting the tops off as of yet,after separating to see if I can get a few bigger trunks.
And chop them next Spring!

 

[leatherback]

Getting some cool plants there again.

 

[cmeg1]

Getting some cool plants there again.

Thanks,I am into the air layers.The edge of stream/ Forest style trees started really weak this Spring and I abandoned them.Not sure what the problem was.I was going to layer them,but I like layering the trees that are in the ground anyway.They are always more vigorous.

 

[Warlock]

Potted some cuttings

View attachment 195448

what are these covers over the soil?? i can't seem to find the keywords to search..

 

[cmeg1]

what are these covers over the soil?? i can't seem to find the keywords to search..

Shredded orchid spahgnum works way better as It will essentially turn into a disc after several waterings.
Finer shred is better as it will stick together more uniform.

 

[cmeg1]

Finished some air layers

Took 4 weeks.KLN seems to increase density of the roots.Did 6 today and they all look good.Better than I anticipated actually.The other four are not quite ready.
I am going to begin several more this evening to have them ready next month.
Lots of buds that should pop on these.They were just chopped from 4 feet down to the current size when I removed them.

 

[Gary McCarthy]

NICE roots on those!!!

I just ground air layered about 20 red maples. I used Clonex on mine. Hope they turn out as nice as yours.

 

[cmeg1]

NICE roots on those!!!

I just ground air layered about 20 red maples. I used Clonex on mine. Hope they turn out as nice as yours.

Thanks! I just did 6 more for next month.Hopefully your red maples put out some roots.Its time consuming work.

 

[cmeg1]

Prepared some Layers

These were shaped with Raft Bonsai in mind from last years cuttings.I was originally going to let these go a few seasons and utilize the rootball in the ground,but decided to air layer them now for mini rafts.A few will be upright with movement.
I did my best to get the angle of the ring bark removal correctly in line for these styles.Will be interesting to see if they root at the correct angles!

 

[Ryceman3]

Man you are BUSY!!!

 

[cmeg1]

Man you are BUSY!!!

It is fun busy though!
Should have about 20 done sometime next month.
I can always replant in 3gallon Root Pouches the ones that don’t bud as planned.At least they will have good roots and I can grow the trunk more.
I might consider that with the Raft Bonsai too!
Thanks

 

[cmeg1]

Made a Twin Trunk

These two had one sided roots,so I removed some wood and sealed them together with some wire.They should fuse together beings it is callous tissue.Seems a match made in Heaven really.

 

[Warlock]

Awesom work

 

[cmeg1]

Changed it to a Triple Trunk
I had another one sided root system,so added to the twin trunk from yesterday for a triple trunk/clump style.
Should fuse together good as I removed another notch and fit it together securely with wire.
I chopped the wrong trunk by accident,so had to shorten the whole design.Not perfect,but should be fun.

 

[Warlock]

I have on Zelkova.. it got heat stressed.. *i missed a couple of waterings*.. but he is coming back strong.. i want to take some cuttings like you did this is like my favorite thread!

 

[cmeg1]

I have on Zelkova.. it got heat stressed.. *i missed a couple of waterings*.. but he is coming back strong.. i want to take some cuttings like you did this is like my favorite thread!

Thanks! Good luck with your Zelkova a lot of times when they dry out and get re-watered you end up with root rot but if you can manage to get some cuttings put them in the ground in the autumn and then air layer next year.
I find the tall propagators with humidity dome and t5 light work best..... make sure use extremely sterile misting water I found out this year that my rainwater is a little dirtier than last year and I had zero success with cuttings......... last year I had 100% success because my rainbarrels were new.

 

[cmeg1]

Roots are getting ready to grow on the second batch at 11 days.They will probably start poking out tomorrow.I will have about Twenty of these.SOME should grow properly.I want to make more clumps from these.
Buds are popping on the first batch at 11 days too.


I actually wouldn’t mind doing this with seedlings for more genetic variability.
I never get tired of making these.Nice ,speedy operation as far as the air layer goes.
I let the cloning gel soak in for a good hour or so before I add perlite and water when I prepare these.

 

[cmeg1]

2 days later.....so exciting!

 

[cmeg1]

Yet one day later...........quite the textbook little air layer at exactly 14 days!
At least they’ll have some Nebari.

 

[cmeg1]

A couple weeks and some of the layers are growing quite vigorously.Definately applying some fungicide.Peach leaf curl can set you back when your dealing with only 4 or 5 shoots.
I guess let grow after a little wire and cut back after some strong growth for good back budding.I want to keep growth next to the trunks.
Different styles hopefully.Maybe a few brooms on the straightest trunks and then some more open styles.
They get quite vigorous when you get some branches going if you let get really bushy and then cut back and defoliate.
I am fertilizing big time.It be nice if I can get a foot extension in a week when they wake up.Still have all Summer!
Roots are certainly developed enough in an essentially hydroponic soil.