turning shoots to roots..

[benw3790]

Can it be done? Like thread grafting roots on.. can you turn shoots that sprout from the very base of the tree into roots? I have a hornbeam that is throwing shoots from the very bottom of the base in between roots. if I could somehow bury them or turn them into roots, I would have a killer nebari in no time. My common sense tells me that if I bury them they will just keep growing and pop up out of the soil at some point. Once they do, can you cut them back to form roots?? 1st could this work? Secondly, how would it work or not work, horticultuarally? Thanks in advance for any input and or advice.

 

[benw3790]

I guess noone has anything to say about this!? Lol

 

[JoeR]

I believe something similar was discussed recently in another thread and the short answer based on that thread - is no. Something about the sap/nutrient flow not being able to be reversed the opposite way. If you bent it down, roots would form and it would work but as soon as you cut the shoot it would either resprout or fail.

 

[Stickroot]

I believe something similar was discussed recently in another thread and the short answer based on that thread - is no. Something about the sap/nutrient flow not being able to be reversed the opposite way. If you bent it down, roots would form and it would work but as soon as you cut the shoot it would either resprout or fail.

You will never get a shoot to reverse and back flow.

 

[Smoke]

First of all what is the plant in question?

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I've seen it in an article long time ago. Don't know where. Could work on some species.

 

[Ceijay]

I have a rosemary with a branch that dipped below the soil and after a while it grew roots. It surly depends on the species.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

First of all what is the plant in question?

Foemina

 

[M. Frary]

Foemina

Badass!

 

[ABCarve]

I would think this would work as long as the terminal of the sucker was allowed to keep growing normally. Eventually, the buried part, being kept moist, would layer itself with roots. Once rooted, cut the green part off.

 

[Smoke]

Foemina

SOL

 

[thumblessprimate1]

The topic reminds me of this post by Hans van Meer. http://hans-van-meer.ofbonsai.org/2015/04/22/serious-at-work-and-a-trick/

As I read it, I'm trying to understand what he's doing. It seems like he's accomplishing what you're asking about. It improves the base, but probably not the same way grafting roots does or does it?

BTW, names with "van" in the middle sound pretty cool like Ludwig van Beethoven or Brian...

 

[barrosinc]

I think I heard it done in Ficus, but can't find where I saw it.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Same

I think I heard it done in Ficus, but can't find where I saw it.

 

[benw3790]

Foemina

The plant In question to my original post is american hornbeam.

 

[benw3790]

I would think this would work as long as the terminal of the sucker was allowed to keep growing normally. Eventually, the buried part, being kept moist, would layer itself with roots. Once rooted, cut the green part off.

Thats what I was thinking!!

 

[Random Usr]

You will never get a shoot to reverse and back flow.

I am not convinced.

 

[GrimLore]

Once they do, can you cut them back to form roots?? 1st could this work? Secondly, how would it work or not work, horticultuarally?

I cannot speak from experience with this in deciduous trees but I can tell you it is possible with a lot of shrubs that throw suckers anyways. I had a Cotoneaster that would do as you describe. When the shoots are still supple if you can get them into the ground without breaking them AND secure they will grow covered in peat or whatever as an air layer or root layer will. Yes they will continue under the substrate and pop up again as a sucker but those types of plants require you to cut away suckers anyways. Experiment with one ore two either way. After a year uncover them and see if they harden off where exposed perhaps? I suspect it varies greatly but a harmless experiment at best! If they stay alive buried they grow fibrous root as most horizontal roots do like aerial roots... Cotoneaster is one but I am certain many shrubs would work as well.

Grimmy

 

[Cypress187]

Air layer the shoot and then graft the new roots + shoot.

 

[Stickroot]

Now that makes great since!