Looking for Zelkova Material

Grant Hamby

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
1,072
Location
Springfield, MO
USDA Zone
6
I'd really like to have a small broom-style zelkova but I'm having a hard time finding any material. I'm not necessarily looking for a "finished" tree, but something less developed with potential. Any and all recommendations appreciated! Thanks!
 

Grant Hamby

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
1,072
Location
Springfield, MO
USDA Zone
6
Very difficult to find!

Don Blackmond may have some. Www.gregorybeachbonsai.com. I haven't looked on his web site in a while. He used to have some. He may have some not posted.

He has a nice little mame broom on there but it's a little smaller than what I'd like.

We do have a couple massive zelkova trees around town, I guess I could always try some cuttings. I don't know anything about cuttings, though.
 

Dav4

Drop Branch Murphy
Messages
13,017
Reaction score
29,699
Location
SE MI- Bonsai'd for 12 years both MA and N GA
USDA Zone
6a
Zelkova grow from cuttings easily.

Cmeg has a thread "I'm going to grow brooms" where he chronicles his experience starting from seed.
True dat! I took maybe 8 cuttings from 2 2 yr old seedlings I had this past summer...5 struck and 2 of them put on at least a foot of growth after they rooted! Very vigorous trees.
 

Grant Hamby

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
1,072
Location
Springfield, MO
USDA Zone
6
True dat! I took maybe 8 cuttings from 2 2 yr old seedlings I had this past summer...5 struck and 2 of them put on at least a foot of growth after they rooted! Very vigorous trees.

Would you mind sharing your technique? I'm planning on trying a few hardwood cuttings as soon as the leaves drop on a few different species, can I do this with zelkova as well?
 

Dav4

Drop Branch Murphy
Messages
13,017
Reaction score
29,699
Location
SE MI- Bonsai'd for 12 years both MA and N GA
USDA Zone
6a
Would you mind sharing your technique? I'm planning on trying a few hardwood cuttings as soon as the leaves drop on a few different species, can I do this with zelkova as well?
Sure...mine were semi-hardwood cuttings that were taken late spring...most likely in June, though I honestly don't remember...about 4" long with all but 2 leaves removed, wounded at the bottom, dipped in rooting powder (Hormodin), stuck about 1 1/2" deep in a mix of turface, sand, and soil conditioner, container (plastic milk jug cut in half with holes punched in the bottom for drainage) tented with a plastic bag to increase humidity and kept in the shade until roots formed. I've never tried hardwood cuttings during the dormant period, but I'd bet zelkova would root just fine, so definitely worth trying.
 

Grant Hamby

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
1,072
Location
Springfield, MO
USDA Zone
6
Sure...mine were semi-hardwood cuttings that were taken late spring...most likely in June, though I honestly don't remember...about 4" long with all but 2 leaves removed, wounded at the bottom, dipped in rooting powder (Hormodin), stuck about 1 1/2" deep in a mix of turface, sand, and soil conditioner, container (plastic milk jug cut in half with holes punched in the bottom for drainage) tented with a plastic bag to increase humidity and kept in the shade until roots formed. I've never tried hardwood cuttings during the dormant period, but I'd bet zelkova would root just fine, so definitely worth trying.

Thanks for the info!
 

Eric Group

Masterpiece
Messages
4,554
Reaction score
4,854
Location
Columbia, SC
I have found them to be comparable to Elms when it comes to cuttings- IOW they pretty much root by accident! Stick them in some dirt in the Spring , and you probably get 50% or better success. I rooted mine in perlite and probably had closer to 80%. Semi hard wood is fine.. or just take hardwood cuttings. Go big, take a lot and more than you expected will root. Keep them wet and in relative shade til new growth starts. Once you see new growth, they probably have roots.
 

Grant Hamby

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
1,072
Location
Springfield, MO
USDA Zone
6
I have found them to be comparable to Elms when it comes to cuttings- IOW they pretty much root by accident! Stick them in some dirt in the Spring , and you probably get 50% or better success. I rooted mine in perlite and probably had closer to 80%. Semi hard wood is fine.. or just take hardwood cuttings. Go big, take a lot and more than you expected will root. Keep them wet and in relative shade til new growth starts. Once you see new growth, they probably have roots.

Well I'm definitely gonna give it a shot, then!
 

Grant Hamby

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
1,072
Location
Springfield, MO
USDA Zone
6
Sorry for the noob question. And for hijacking my own thread. Is it necessary to tent winter cuttings for humidity or is that only necessary if the cuttings have existing foliage?
 

10-brink

Mame
Messages
188
Reaction score
294
Location
Lansing, MI
USDA Zone
5B
I attempted a bunch of zelkova cuttings when I first got interested in bonsai, sadly none of them rooted. I think the problem was not enough humidity and too much sun. This year I didn't bother with cuttings, just bought a bunch of seedlings online. much easier :) they were like a dollar each from Matt O.
 

vicn

Yamadori
Messages
82
Reaction score
69
Location
Smithville, Mo
USDA Zone
5b
Sorry for the noob question. And for hijacking my own thread. Is it necessary to tent winter cuttings for humidity or is that only necessary if the cuttings have existing foliage?
Humidity is needed when the plant is in leaf....not so much when dormant. In dormant state, you only want to keep the substrate damp. In spring, you will want to tent cuttings with plastic to keep humidity up. There are no roots to send water to leaves, so you try to keep humidity high until new roots form.
 

Grant Hamby

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
1,072
Location
Springfield, MO
USDA Zone
6
Humidity is needed when the plant is in leaf....not so much when dormant. In dormant state, you only want to keep the substrate damp. In spring, you will want to tent cuttings with plastic to keep humidity up. There are no roots to send water to leaves, so you try to keep humidity high until new roots form.

Makes sense! Thanks!

I attempted a bunch of zelkova cuttings when I first got interested in bonsai, sadly none of them rooted. I think the problem was not enough humidity and too much sun. This year I didn't bother with cuttings, just bought a bunch of seedlings online. much easier :) they were like a dollar each from Matt O.

Not sure why I didn't think of Matt before! I contacted him today, gonna get some bare root seedlings as soon as he stocks them on the website!
 

vicn

Yamadori
Messages
82
Reaction score
69
Location
Smithville, Mo
USDA Zone
5b
Makes sense! Thanks!



Not sure why I didn't think of Matt before! I contacted him today, gonna get some bare root seedlings as soon as he stocks them on the website!
I've tried to contact him several times with no luck????
 
Top Bottom