Propagating Fukien tea roots??

ysobelle

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IMG_2088.JPG IMG_2090.JPG IMG_2091.JPG IMG_2092.JPG IMG_2093.JPG IMG_2094.JPG Hello all -

New to the forum here - thanks for taking the time to read my post.

Loading up several photos here for you to see most angles. Fukien tea I picked up from some home improvement place several years back - mainly because this one had a little better shape than most - but still the dread “S” curve. I know it will never be a display-worthy specimen, but I still want to do what I can because it’s so darn healthy. (Knock on wood.) Removed all the moss and pushed back the soil so you get a good look at the root base.


Problem is - as you can see - base is puny and trunk hooks out immediately. Front /back angles - are either inverted back or pigeon forward. I fear I am too inexperienced to attempt something like the tourniquet - I would probably kill it. I did have a wild hare idea to slice out a rectangular section of the bark+cambium under the overhanging low trunk, cover it with root gel, keep a soaked sea sponge attached to it and see if any roots might propagate. Is that crazy? Would the cambium just close up on this type of tree?


My thought was if I could get roots growing out there - I may have a shot with turning this into a root over rock style or maybe attempt a penjing setting.

Appreciate any experience or advice with a similar situation. Thanks, all...

Ysobelle
 
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Anthony

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Ysobelle - welcome.
Please, show in your avatar where you are.

If the fukien tea is healthy, it will often, throw up shoots from the root zone
and grows easily from seed or cutting.

Look up the zones in China, to see how much cold it can handle.

Always take cuttings and experiment on them,not the mother.
Good Day
Anthony
 

ysobelle

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Hi Anthony -
Thank you for the prompt reply... However, my bad on choice of vocabulary. I may opt to propagate a new plant at some point, but I carelessly used that word (propagate) - thinking it could mean "develop new" in the sense of new roots. My inexperience showing through here. Apologies.
I wanted to rename or move this post to another forum, but I can't find a way to edit it once a reply has been made. Hence, I reposted under a more apt title on the Miscellaneous Tree forum.
I do appreciate the response though.
Ysobelle
 

sorce

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rename or move this post

No need to worry about that!

@Anthony is the only one who knows Fukien or has a mind to speak on it anyway.
And you found him!

If it will layer for new roots....
I say give it a go!

Don't listen to any other BS out there about Fukien.
Its likely you'll hear they die if (everything)...
But you seem to be doing way better!

Just keep your timeline!

Several years later!

You'll have a good tree!

I appreciate the commitment.
And hell, if you stick around and actually show us progress on this thing....say....a monthly update...

I'll make you a pot for it.
(And ship it. Yes free.)

If it dies... You'll just have to get a better tree!

Sorce
 

ysobelle

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Good deal! Glad I found you both... :)
Thanks so much to both of you for the support and encouragement. As things develop, I will be happy to post an update.

@sorce - I will have to check out your posts for some pot photos... or do you have a website?
-Ysobelle
 

It's Kev

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@sorce forgot to say: "Welcome to crazy!"
And good point about the layering, i was also thinking ground/air layer, lets see what ol @Anthony says about how and when to do layers on these.
I'm surrounded by F.tea, living in the south of China and my night time temps are touching single digits C since last weekend. My F.tea is actually pushing a ton of new growth.
 
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