AusBonsai

This crepe myrtle was in wrong spot near my neighbour's driveway. It has heaps of scars made by contacting with car tyres and shoes. Yet it looks appealing to me.
I told the owner that it would look great as a piece of drifted wood in my fish tank. He knocked on my door today and gave me ...a piece of drifted wood
The stump hardly has any root left on it. I put in in the soil but doubt that it would survive.

you might have a chance... not to get ya hopes up but soak it in a "b" vitamin solution in a bucket overnight then put it in soil, i cant garauntee anything but i have seen it work on bouganvillas with no roots at all before

I don't have any vitB but will a crushed pill of A-Z multivitamine work? Guess not. I'll pull it out and deep in the dilluted seasol instead.

kvan64 wrote:I don't have any vitB but will a crushed pill of A-Z multivitamine work? Guess not. I'll pull it out and deep in the dilluted seasol instead.

I doubt the seasol will help all that much... but you might like to dip it in some root hormone, that might help

I assume the vitamin B suggestion was because vitamin B stimulates the natural root hormone in the plant?

yeah that could work, i read somewhere now i couldnt tell you where but if you boil some water and put vegemite in it to make a vegemite solution concentrate then mix it in to a bucket of water that works the same as "b" vitamin cos vegemite is full of B vitamins.
that might help aswell with the seasol.
like i said though i wouldnt get my hopes up with it mate. it could be to far gone but there may be a chance.


ps. i know it sounds ridiculous but the vegemite actually makes sense if you think about it, all it is is a vitamin paste realy isnt it

and yes some root hormone probly wouldnt hurt either. and yes the vitamin b idea is to stimulate the root growth japh well done

Japh wrote:I assume the vitamin B suggestion was because vitamin B stimulates the natural root hormone in the plant?

I have dusted a pinch of rooting hormone powder prior to planting. However, I was afraid that the trunk would die before it has the chance to grow any root (the process that could take weeks).

kvan64 wrote:

Japh wrote:I assume the vitamin B suggestion was because vitamin B stimulates the natural root hormone in the plant?

I have dusted a pinch of rooting hormone powder prior to planting. However, I was afraid that the trunk would die before it has the chance to grow any root (the process that could take weeks).

if you get to it quick enough with the b vitamin this will help alot with that. take a look at bretts post on a native i think it was, it has been in a bucket of water for months and is still surving, and it was the top of a trunk chop

So, should I keep it in the pot still and just add seasol, vitamineB solution as the rooting hormone is already there? or should I pull it out now and set it in a bucket then add seasol, vitamineb and some rooting hormone? Will the cocktail have any advert effect?

kvan64 wrote:So, should I keep it in the pot still and just add seasol, vitamineB solution as the rooting hormone is already there? or should I pull it out now and set it in a bucket then add seasol, vitamineb and some rooting hormone? Will the cocktail have any advert effect?

To keep the trunk alive, you need to maintain the capillary action that sucks the water up through it. So probably putting it in water with some vitamin B solution would be fine. There's not much in the way of foliage, so that's in your favour, because there's less demand on the roots.

I would seriously consider whether or not you add Seasol... fertiliser can burn new roots, so it might actually have an adverse effect.

kvan64 wrote:

Japh wrote:I assume the vitamin B suggestion was because vitamin B stimulates the natural root hormone in the plant?

I have dusted a pinch of rooting hormone powder prior to planting. However, I was afraid that the trunk would die before it has the chance to grow any root (the process that could take weeks).

I would recommend stripping a part of the bark back to the cambium (where you want roots to take) and after you've applied Rootex (Root Hormone) planting it in a 1:1 mix of Sphagnum Moss Peat and Sharp Sand, And be sure to keep it very moist, until it has grown a few roots.

By all means use the B vitamin if you have it Prior to all this. But without it, I would recommend this

Hope this helps!

Jordy

kvan64 wrote:So, should I keep it in the pot still and just add seasol, vitamineB solution as the rooting hormone is already there? or should I pull it out now and set it in a bucket then add seasol, vitamineb and some rooting hormone? Will the cocktail have any advert effect?

i would put it in the bucket with the b vitamin solution, wouldnt worry bout the seasol, that promotes new growth, you dont have any on that one there mate the rooting hormone powder might help, dunno bout that. as for the adverse affect how could you do any more damage then already that has been done???

all the best with it mate, will keep an eye on the thread and let us know how you go, im sure some of the more experienced will help ya but you will probly get told its not worth trying but if you think you can bring it back then you should try, what have you got to lose mate?? thats the big question, some water and vegemite? you didnt pay for the tree and if it does die then you will have some nice drift wood for your fish tank, make sure if you use it for your fish tank though that you boil it for a while and let it sit in the sun for a few weekss to get rid of the tanin in the wood!

Thanks mate. ya right, can't be any worse. Vegemite, I have. Worse senario, I'll find out if the fish like vegemite too

Just a second thought, we may have some children's vitamin b somewhere in the family. Just don't know which one works: B1, B6 or B12?

Crepe Myrtles root very readily. I air layer a huge thick branch years ago and it rooted no problem. I have heard of people rooting wrist thick crepe myrtle cuttings. I think you have quite a good chance if you give it good aftercare.

i know for sure that it is recommoend B1 not sure of the others but i cant see the B6 and B12 hurting either, chuck it all in with ya vegemite mix
cant see it hurting, and that reply from webos is promising too! if you can take cuttings that thick you just might have a bit more hope!!

Will certainly be a great story if it pulls through!