Stone fruit bonsais. Cuttings or seed?

[lenaorchid]

what would be the ideal way to get a stone fruit bonsai (plums, apricots, cherries etc) established? I have heard from seed is better but obviously takes much longer. Or how about cuttings?

[barefoot]

From Seed you get Possible variation in flower and fruit, by Cutting / Layering you get true to form. From seed it may take years to develop flower / fruit, by Cutting / Layering if the parent plant flowers fruits then the cutting should. I also have a Cumquat bought from a Nursery as a seedling that has never flowered (15 years now).
Try boths methods and see what you end up with, I find its part of the joy of this Hobby.

[lenaorchid]

hmmmm when would be the best time to take cuttings from propagation? After flowering?

[kcpoole]

Yep I would be putting cuttings in now, or even better to start some airlayers if you can

I have lots of peaches coming up from seeds that have fallen to the ground where i dug one out this year. I might collect a few and pot up for the future

Ken

[astroboy76]

it depends on which type of tree you are getting cuttings from. crabapples i find it easiest to take rot cuttings when i repot. with plums and cherries i have had %50 success with just taking a 6 inch cutting of new spring growth that has just hardened off and places in a pot with half a coke bottle over it.

apricots are best taken the same way to ensure plenty of leaf buds.