AusBonsai

My neighbour kindly granted me permission to take a few cuttings from their 40 year old maple, thought it might be wrong time of year, but they're looking to sell soon, so was an opportune moment.

Cuttings are either the purple rooting hormone or the red rooting hormone (both types mixed with rooting powder).

The ones with brown twine used the red mixture, keen to see if those are more/same/less successful.

Going to keep in shade for a few week, and water few times a week, unless advice suggests otherwsie.

Wondering if I should trim back a lot of the leaves, or leave as is, and let the cuttings decide what to keep/discard?

Good luck with the cuttings. I can occasionally get a couple to root but then they seem to die off after transplant so I have given up trying JM cuttings.
I know some growers can root JM but many report very low success.
There are a couple of commercial growers who can and do grow JM cuttings so it can be done.

Remove most leaves unless you have some way to maintain high humidity. Leaves do drive roots but they also use water and without roots the cuttings cannot replace lost water and will dehydrate.

Thanks for the insight shibui !!!

I keep confusing myself between leaf trimming when: re-potting, air layering and cuttings ... I am finding on my large Trident maple air layer, it seemed to just shed the leaves it doesn't want/can't support.

Will trim back some of these to just a few leaves as a test, and see how they go/grow.

Thanks again!

For me, cuttings work best when taken over winter. Air layering works best during the first frantic burst of growth in sprig.
The rest is a crap shoot.

Ok, might try again in winter if no luck with these, if the new neighbour's approve (or if the branches lean over my fence).

Two weeks on ... and after removing lots of leaves, the trees decided I left too much on, and have taken matters into their own "hands" (aka branches) ... barely any leaves remain now, most dried up.

Could be my optimism, looks like buds might break soon, or at least I'll have a lovely stick collection ...

Many cuttings are able to sprout new buds and grow new leaves on the resources stored in the stems so don't count your cuttings before you pot on.
It is common for cuttings to grow leaves and look super healthy then finally fold up and die because there are no roots to support the growth. Frustrating but normal.

Thanks for the extra insight shibui, won't count my chickens yet.

Well, as expected, the summer cuttings didn't make it. Good news, it's winter so I'm trying again, cuttings from Sunday as below, using a mix of rooting powder and the red gel ... not sure if I've left too many branches and buds on? Keen for any guidance if I should trim back further?
- Daniel

I’d avoid cuts at the top - you lose moisture.

I’ve seldom had success taking multiple cuts off the same branch.

I haven’t tried jm for years but recently got my hands on shishagashira and kiyohime I’m keen to try on.

There’s videos online saying mix of coir peat and perlite works.

Maybe cover with a bag too to increase humidity?

Ahh, bag ... good idea, will do that!

Also, worth using cut paste on the open ends? I hadn't considered moisture loss.

- Daniel

legoman_iac wrote: ↑August 9th, 2022, 7:31 pm Well, as expected, the summer cuttings didn't make it. Good news, it's winter so I'm trying again, cuttings from Sunday as below, using a mix of rooting powder and the red gel ... not sure if I've left too many branches and buds on? Keen for any guidance if I should trim back further?

Screenshot_20220809-190853_Gallery.jpg

- Daniel

I sometimes feel we are mirroring the things we are doing.

Right at the very death of summer (read autumn) I managed to get some JM cuttings to strike. I think 4 or 5. Compared with the number I tried that isn’t much success! Needed to change my mix. I used coir peat perlite and propagating sand. Prior to that no perlite and it was largely a failure.

Re hard wood cuttings, how big can you go?

My laneway can produce as well as a few nature strip maples so keen to give it a go.

I have finally got some seeds to take (from a loca tree). In a way I am surprised because they started to go mouldy before I planted. I thought I should have taken better care, either planted earlier or kept drier. None of the others ai have got have.

Congrats on the 5 successful cuttings! I figure it's like photography, count your successes not your click rate, haha.

I've taken a bunch of cuttings, ideally the thicker ones (10-20mm) will strike, but have a few teeny ones too, as I might be pushing it a bit.

Shame about your seeds, guess there's always next year!?

- Daniel

legoman_iac wrote: ↑August 10th, 2022, 7:07 am Congrats on the 5 successful cuttings! I figure it's like photography, count your successes not your click rate, haha.

I've taken a bunch of cuttings, ideally the thicker ones (10-20mm) will strike, but have a few teeny ones too, as I might be pushing it a bit.

Shame about your seeds, guess there's always next year!?

- Daniel

Well... photography I'm actually good at!!! But yes click rate still high!

I got a great tip from a horticulturalist friend about knowing when cuttings have developed roots: you will know they have grown roots when they are a bit sturdy in the pot when you gently wobble the cutting. That is much better than removing the potting mix to check.