AusBonsai

Ok, public embarrassment may follow but I'll ask anyway.

In the high winds of yesterday, a number of old, large cedars in my neighbourhood lost limbs. Here's one that I dragged home off the pavement.

Is there any chance at all that I can make rafts or take cuttings? Some the rafts are already potentially lovely and I thought I could strip the underside and lay it down? (Preferable) Or take cuttings? OR both. Or nothing. I'll shut up now and let people laugh or not... and amidst that, any ideas about the species. My sense from the colour and length of needle is that it's possibly Cedrus atlantica? And ...whether or not I can make any use of this branch?

Hmmm, after further investigation via the google-verse... it seems very unlikely, if not impossible to succeed .... with a raft and indeed, even cuttings. Alas, I thought it all seemed too easy!

Your second thought is correct unfortunately. Cedars are notoriously difficult to grow from cuttings.

Well...because I dragged the branch home and I had nothing better to do at lunchtime... I sawed it into manageable parts, stripped the underside down to the cambium on each, soaked in Seasol and applied rooting hormone gel and planted in trays. Little doubt that a slow (or perhaps fast) death waits ... Alas... an optimist I am.

I seem to remember a successful cutting many years ago but I've tried a few times since and had 0 success with cedar.
that you have beginners luck with one or more of these.

Worth a shot IMO! Worst case it dies and you've lost a bit of your time. Might be worth covering it with a clear plastic bag or similar to keep the humidity up, unless this isn't recommended for cedars.

I've got some cedrus atlantica cuttings which have stayed alive for 6 months but I haven't seen any roots yet. They've budded out but not extended. I'm not confident any of them have rooted but they don't want to die

I think it's a great idea either way. I've tried a few fallen branches from a nearby jacaranda tree. No luck yet.

Any time spent with bonsai is all learning. If it's unsuccessful, you know for next time and won't have any regrets. If successful, you have a new forest!

Good luck, keen to hear how it goes. Sounds like you've given then the best chance.

Cheers all. I appreciate the positive sentiment and fingers are crossed. As some have noted - nothing to lose and something to learn. I'll keep you updated regardless of the outcome.

A couple years ago I did I think 4 cuttings and 2 have worked great and going strong.
Good luck.

Greg

Luck will be needed! It's hardly a cutting more a sawing. Here's an off-cut

Still... very interesting to study the sub-brach structure even on this fallen limb.