First time propagating seeds

[BB Brian]

Quick question. Should I leave them in full sun or shade but outside under the bench?


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[BB Brian]

Hi Banong well done mate...now a bigger yard for all your trees

Thanks no idea. Collection is definitely growing. Might have to slow down. Haha.


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[shibui]

Quick question. Should I leave them in full sun or shade but outside under the bench?

I put mine outside in full sun. Shade can lead to tall, skinny seedlings with long internodes. Shade also increases the chance of 'damping off' which is a fungal infection. Sun and fresh air help suppress fungal problems.
It should not be too hot or dry at this time of year so sun is best

Start fertilising within a week or 2. Seedlings need nutrients to grow and stay healthy.

[BB Brian]

Quick question. Should I leave them in full sun or shade but outside under the bench?

I put mine outside in full sun. Shade can lead to tall, skinny seedlings with long internodes. Shade also increases the chance of 'damping off' which is a fungal infection. Sun and fresh air help suppress fungal problems.
It should not be too hot or dry at this time of year so sun is best

Start fertilising within a week or 2. Seedlings need nutrients to grow and stay healthy.

Thanks Shibui, will move it to full sun. I have added some slow release fertiliser when I first planted the seeds but I can apply liquid fertiliser this week as well.


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[BB Brian]

Update on my Chinese Elm seedlings [SEEDLING]
Still not sure when I should start separating them, but you can definitely see the leaves forming!







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[shibui]

Timing is not that critical now. You can prick some out when they are really small like these or wait until they get larger. Sometimes I have had seedling trays 2 years old before I got around to separating the seedlings.
The younger they are the easier they grow new roots so doing some now will allow really severe root pruning and they will just grow lots of new lateral roots.
With that many you will probably end up doing a few at a time over the next year. You are going to have plenty of trees to play with now

[kcpoole]

Nice crop
I pot tthem up into 4 inch pots when the trunk starts to harden off usually,
that way you can wire them into little twists and bends ads per Stevens talk at the summit

Ken

[BB Brian]

3 month progression.

In the 2nd photo you can see I've added a 2nd tray as I may have not put enough soil and the roots were growing from underneath.
Now I'm not sure if it was good idea as I've tried to lift the top tray and seperate it from the bottom but seems like they are both stuck together.
If I forced it will it pull all these seedlings from underneath? :S








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[BB Brian]

Nice crop
I pot tthem up into 4 inch pots when the trunk starts to harden off usually,
that way you can wire them into little twists and bends ads per Stevens talk at the summit

Ken

Those 3 in the middle seem like have form wood already. Or are they still to young to seperate Ken?


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[shibui]

You can separate seedlings any time from germination. I usually start to prick out when the seedlings have first leaves. When they are big enough to pick up they are ready so you can do yours any time. You don't have to do them all at the same time. Just dig out as many as you can manage in one go and leave the rest to keep growing in the tray. Sometimes it takes me a couple of years to transplant all the seedlings from a tray like this.

If you want to wire the trunks when you transplant you will need to let them grow more but you can wire the trunks when they have grown bigger in the new pots.

[BB Brian]

I separated 6 about a month ago and it seems their growth has slowed down.

Will take your advice and try seperate a few every couple weeks I guess.

Cheers Shibui


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[shibui]

You will probably notice a pause in growth while they recover from cut roots but they should soon take off again and soon overtake the ones in the tray if you have put them in pots with plenty of room for roots.
Remember to feed them, especially the seed tray to keep them growing.

[melbrackstone]

When I pricked the first ones out of the pot I grew them in I cut the roots severely, then potted them into tubes....but that was back in June. With the heat we're having here in Brisbane I'd be much more circumspect with any I might prick out now...they need a bit of shelter from the fierce sun and dry wind at the mo.

I suspect you've got a lifetime's worth of trees there.

[treeman]

Nice crop
I pot tthem up into 4 inch pots when the trunk starts to harden off usually,
that way you can wire them into little twists and bends ads per Stevens talk at the summit

Ken

Those 3 in the middle seem like have form wood already. Or are they still to young to seperate Ken?


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These trees need feeding. The purple colour is probably Phosphorus deficiency but they need NPK. Better still pot them into 3'' tubes with some osmocote.

[BB Brian]

Haven't had much time to seperate them into tubes just yet but here's an update

We're moving house by end of year and should sort it sooner rather than later I guess

Question, is it best for liquid fertiliser once a month or more often at this stage?
I did have slow release when I first planted the seeds and was told they last roughly 6
months, looking to apply another slow release i picked up from bonsai south when I plant in tubes











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