Chinese Elm Seed Propagation

[anttal63]

imagine that; chinese elm heavan!

[Webos]

I have a big park over my back fence....hmmm what would happen should one escape from my backyard???

[Webos]

I'd have to do the responsible thing and remove them every year wouldnt I?

[anttal63]

[Webos]

Seeds have germinated and sprouted already!!! Have four littley's popping their heads out of the tray!! Should be a lot more in the coming weeks...

So there you go guys, picked the seed only a month or so ago off of a chinese elm in a park, put it in and a few weeks later, trees. It's that easy!

[kcpoole]

Easy peasy

Same with trident maples and Liquid amber too

[anttal63]

webos let it rip now mate! btw how did you go with getting those tridents?

[bodhidharma]

Its interesting isnt it. I have 2 chinese elms which i planted myself 10 years ago and have never had a sucker. they are right in the front yard so i can aerial layer of them. But English elms are a whole different ball game. I have a whole forest up the road which the owner begs me to come and dig up. A bomb would not stop them from suckering.

[paddles]

webs plant them now . they should pop by sept. nice basal flare and movement on a seedling straight away and grow on very quickly. definately worth it. as long as ya dont fill the back yard withm.

Oi!! Whats wrong with filling the backyard with them... just mix a few other species in, and you have a scenic forest developing

[Aussie_Bonsai]

i planted some chinese elm seeds mid july and they're only just popping up now. Can't wait for them to get some propper leaves tho. Should be an interesting project.

[Loretta]

Well if you never want to get rid of them, go for it..... I dont think I have I have ever spoken to someone growing them in the ground who has ever managed to get rid of them once in....

Thats OK 'cos you will allways have new Stock to pick from

I have had them in the ground and managed to avoid the problem, I moved house and left them there

Serioulsely tho I would also put them in the ground to develop

Ken

I'm just warning people of the trouble they cause when roots are cut. I have seen people plant them in large troughs as a way to stop the issues with cut roots.
If you want a nice garden without Chinese elms taking over go for it, otherwise look into other methods of trunk thickening.[/quote]

I can't believe what I'm reading here...I was given a Chinese Elm cutting on Sunday at Tony Bebbs workshop and I have been sweating beads of blood that it takes...and today I found one at the nursery which I bought in a snap as we don't see them too often up here. Now I'm reading that they grow like triffids down there....I hope that's the case up here. Should I keep the bought one in sun or dappled shade...the sun here is merciless for anything in a little pot, the roots could cook
Appreciate anyones opinion please.
cheers Loretta

[Jamie]

hi mate

its my first year growing elm seed and I am pretty impressed, I put these ones on top of a diatomite/organic mix in a 12 inch across pot last week, and so far a fair few have popped, well a lot, with more to come. easy as with elm seed mate, no stratification needed.

good luck!

[siddhar]

I'm just warning people of the trouble they cause when roots are cut. I have seen people plant them in large troughs as a way to stop the issues with cut roots.
If you want a nice garden without Chinese elms taking over go for it, otherwise look into other methods of trunk thickening.

Sorry for my ignorance, but Im guessing Elms can tend to take over aggressively when planted in the ground?

Also, collecting seeds from Elm trees .. Is it as straight forward as its sounds? What am I looking for?

[shibui]

Its not as bad as Asus is making out, at least over here in Vic. I have grown lots in the ground to fatten for many years. After digging them a few shoots will come up from cut roots but are easily managed by pulling them up or a little roundup. I've found that suckers from chinese elm roots are not good for bonsai as radial roots are well down and there is usually a strong, straight trunk below ground.

I've never seen a chinese elm sucker without roots being cut so do not worry about growing one as agarden tree. English elm, however throw up suckers without any interference.

It will be interesting to see what these seedling chinese elms look like. The ones I grew are quite different to the parent tree and to the other varieties i grew before.

To collect seed just pull bunches off the tree when it has ripened - turns brown in autumn. I've never tried growing English elm from seed, I assumed it was sterile as I have never seen a seedling, just suckers and plenty of opportunity to dig good old suckers so don't need to grow seed but as it is a species it must grow from seed in its native habitat?

[kcpoole]

Also, collecting seeds from Elm trees .. Is it as straight forward as its sounds? What am I looking for?

Yes Siddhar
Just collect he ripe seeds from the trees, kep them dry and plant them out late winter spring in a seedling tray. within a few short week you will have the popping up. Once they have the second set of leaves and the trunk start to harden you can pot them up into small pots.

Ken