Larch Hard Wood Cutting

Amenson

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Hello,
I have been lurking on the site for a while now and this will be my first post. I have been involved in bonsai for only a year but have been researching quite aggressively since starting. I have learned quite a bit from this forum and would like to thank those who take the time to share their experiences.

On to my question...
My local club (the Columbus bonsai society) had a Larch Madness workshop so I ordered a larch and set out learning. After the workshop I had the top of the tree left over and asked a few guys if it would root. The guys I talked to did not have any direct experience with a hard wood larch cuttings and recommended that I give it a try and report back to the club.

I could not remember running into much information on hard wood cuttings but figured a little rooting hormone could not hurt so I mixed up a bucket of ferti-lome Root Stimulator (indole-3-butyric acid) and tossed it in. I let it soak for an hour or so.

After that I put it in a small plastic pot and filled it up with the club soil (mixture of equal parts haydite, coarse sand, turface and peat/decomposed bark mix).

I put it in the light box that I made for my wife's orchids/garden seed and have been misting/watering it several times a day.

Much to my surprise it the buds actually started swelling and are now opening quite nicely. It is even further along than the parent tree that has been living outside.

I guess the question is...so now what? It seems to be doing well but should I keep it inside for a while (how long?) or put it outside in the shade or sun? Should I start fertilizing? Do I need to keep misting? I took the cutting and potted it on March 21st.

Here are some pictures.

Cheers
Scott
 

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capnk

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Amenson,
Sounds like you have done the right things.
We routinely root cuttings this large, so it can be done.
The fact that the buds have popped is encouraging, but the fact is that cuttings will pop in the spring even if they have no roots.
What to do now? Wait. I would recommend generous misting. Don't disturb the soil/roots this year. If it continues to grow, fertilize it aggressively. Vigorous top growth will stimulate root growth.
Good luck,
Chris
 

grouper52

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I concur with capnk. JLs are robust and resilient, but spring budding means nothing. Chances are good it will root, but follow his instructions for now.

Rooting hormones can be a mixed bag, BTW: too weak OR too strong a solution and they will not work. Different species respond best to different strengths. Hormex used to put out some info about appropriate strengths with their packs of stronger powders.
 
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I'm very curious about the ring mechanism you put together to keep it stable... what it is... ?

V
 

Bill S

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capnk, grouper do you guys have experiance with rooting larch? It is my understanding they didn't root well, and if they did it was if you used spagnum moss packed around the rooting area, and that would still be iffy????? Is it a differance between Japanese and American larch??
 

Amenson

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I'm very curious about the ring mechanism you put together to keep it stable... what it is... ?

V

It is just some copper wire and small diameter fuel line. I found that the tree was very unstable in the pot so I came up with this to gently hold it in place.

Thanks to the rest for the feedback. Should I keep it inside for now or put it out with the rest of my trees... :rolleyes: when they go back outside. It looked like it might freeze last night and tonight so everything is back in the cold frame until tomorrow.
 

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fletch

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Update?

Just wondering how your cutting is doing so far?
 

capnk

Mame
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Bill,
Sorry for the slow reply. I hadn't seen your question until I noticed this thread was updated.
We root Japanese larch. Haven't tried any others.
We use hardwood cuttings taken in the spine, rooting hormone and put them under a misting system. We consistently get good results.
Chris
 

Bill S

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No problem Chris, thanks for taking the time. I actually may have a native larch cutting taking. It was one of a couple dozen different pieces of pruned trees that I stuck in a "cutting pot" and so far seems to be trying to give it a go. My "cuttings pot" is a cut down 3 gallon nursery can full of rich soil that sits next to the bench I work on usually, mostly shaded, and stays fairly damp, I just shove em in and see if they make it. It could be the fact that it stays so wet, so the larch is thinking bog and sprouts out some new roots close to the surface. Now in 20 or 30 years it might be something.:D
 

Drcuisine

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Consider getting a copy of

The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation: From Seed to Tissue Culture, Second Edition by Michael Dirr. Available for a few dollars on eBay. A wealth of knowlage when it comes to propagation. Everyone should have a copy.​

Mats H
 

W3rk

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Consider getting a copy of

The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation: From Seed to Tissue Culture, Second Edition by Michael Dirr. Available for a few dollars on eBay. A wealth of knowlage when it comes to propagation. Everyone should have a copy.​

Mats H
lol you just resurrected a 12 year old thread =)
 
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