Ulmus Procera struck?

[Boics]

Hello there..

I noticed some suckers on some elms the other week.
I ripped a couple out (quite crudely) and didn't manage to salvage much..

Nevertheless I covered what was left of the base/roots and took it home.
I then put it in a jiffy pot with propagating sand/perlite and sphagnum moss.
I think I gave them a quick seasol drink and left them in a mostly shady spot (filtered light at most).

Around a month later and most have started budding profusely (pic attached).

Questions are....

1. Can I consider these successfully struck?
2. Will they be now rooted sufficiently to support this new growth?
3. Is there any additional care I should employ to ensure survival?

[TamworthSteve]

Hi,
I don't think they will have rooted sufficiently in just a couple of weeks, however they may have started to for root nodes, which are the beginnings of roots(just don't disturb them to check).
It may be that the shoots you are seeing are from "stored energy" in the trunks, however with the right care, which it sounds like you are providing, they have every chance of becoming successfully struck, as this stored energy will usually last the time it takes for roots to appear and take over the job of supporting the new shoots/growth.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Steve.

[shibui]

Steve is absolutely correct. Many cuttings will produce buds and shoots from stored energy in the trunk. The larger the cutting the larger the shoots can grow without roots but cuttings can sustain shoots for a while in fact the new shoots will produce energy which will help to produce roots.
I never consider cuttings to have struck until I see roots coming out the bottom of the pot.

Your cutting care sounds ok. Misting the leaves a couple of times each day could help.
English elm should strike roots pretty easy so you have a good chance.

[Boics]

Thanks for the input guys..
Starting to make more and more sense.

So am I best to leave all these new leaves?

Reason I ask is that it is often advised to remove much of the leaf matter when taking a cutting so as to not dry the specimen out.

[shibui]

Reduce the amount of leaves when you take a cutting but leave the ones which grow - they will feed the cutting and help it grow roots. Just try to maintain humidity so the leaves don't dehydrate the cutting. Regular misting will help. A cover over it will also maintain high humidity - a plastic bag over this one would be an option or put the whole pot into one of those plastic storage tubs with the lid on. Just make sure it doesn't overheat in the sun if you use either of these ideas!