do Deshojo, dissectum, arakawa, bloodgood grow from seed?

[aframe]

Whenever it is convenient for you.
Not much will happen until the foliage has hardened, regardless of when you start the layer.

When is the best time to take cuttings?
thanks

 

[0soyoung]

When is the best time to take cuttings?
thanks

I think it is in the spring, right after the leafs have hardened (photosynthesis drives root production). One should be able to take cuttings even in late summer, but the challenge is getting enough mature roots to survive though the first winter. I have a long growing season but it is quite cool, so it takes 3 or 4 months to produce roots at my place.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Does anyone know if there is a way to determine what percentage of seeds will be true to the parent? Say if you have arakawa or deshojo seeds, will any of them exhibit the characteristics of the parents?

I have a few dozen just starting to grow and am curious what I may end up with.

 

[rodeolthr]

I've found that some varieties are more likely to exhibit parental traits than others. However, factors such as proximity to other j. maples can definitely affect this. Alternately, I have some trees that are a total crap shoot and throw out every possible combination of leaves, colors, and shapes no matter their position in the garden. This is most likely attributed to a mixed lineage that created that particular seedling to begin with.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Does anyone know if there is a way to determine what percentage of seeds will be true to the parent?

Even if they look true to parent, there is no way to know if they are - short of genetic testing.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Even if they look true to parent, there is no way to know if they are - short of genetic testing.

So if you have an arakawa seed, is it guaranteed the seed will produce a tree with rough bark? Will a deshojo from seed produce the prized red leaves? or is it all just a crapshoot?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

So if you have an arakawa seed, is it guaranteed the seed will produce a tree with rough bark? Will a deshojo from seed produce the prized red leaves? or is it all just a crapshoot?

The only way you can get a guarantee is to clone the parent stock - via cutting, grafting or air-layer (or tissue culture - but that is a lab level task).

Japanese maples have so many interesting cultivars because of their high degree of genetic variability. Plant 100 arakawa seeds, and some might have rough bark, some might not, and some might even have rougher bark. Plant some seeds from a Bloodgood (the most popular red-leaf cultivar for landscape) and some seedlings won't even have red leaves (I know this from personal experience).

Many/most Japanese maple bonsai are not even named cultivars. They are simply the result of sowing thousands of seeds in a field, and selecting those that have suitable character for bonsai (primarily small leaves and short internodes).

 

[Paradox]

I'm sure there is probably some data somewhere from a horticulture program/college/field station. This is the kind of thing they love to research. Only problem is how long it would take to get the results. If too long then not really feasible for a research project

 

[Nybonsai12]

The only way you can get a guarantee is to clone the parent stock - via cutting, grafting or air-layer (or tissue culture - but that is a lab level task).

Japanese maples have so many interesting cultivars because of their high degree of genetic variability. Plant 100 arakawa seeds, and some might have rough bark, some might not, and some might even have rougher bark. Plant some seeds from a Bloodgood (the most popular red-leaf cultivar for landscape) and some seedlings won't even have red leaves (I know this from personal experience).

Many/most Japanese maple bonsai are not even named cultivars. They are simply the result of sowing thousands of seeds in cultivation, and selecting those that have suitable character for bonsai (primarily small leaves and short internodes).

Thanks Bnut.. this is what i kind of figured. should be interesting to see which of my seeds(if any) turn out with desired traits.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Thanks Bnut.. this is what i kind of figured. should be interesting to see which of my seeds(if any) turn out with desired traits.

Absolutely! I'm not saying don't do it. I have a lot of JM seedlings in cultivation, and I wish I had more. They just aren't cultivars.

There is a guy I've met who lives in Winston/Salem who has tons of JM in landscape - with seedlings everywhere. When he sees a seedling he finds interesting he digs it out and moves it into a nice location in his property. His favorite JM of all is a random seedling that he really liked, and he planted it by the front of his house years ago. To give you an idea of its size, he likes to climb into the branches, and there is a comfortable seating spot where he likes to relax and read

 

[Nybonsai12]

Absolutely! I'm not saying don't do it. I have a lot of JM seedlings in cultivation, and I wish I had more. They just aren't cultivars.

There is a guy I've met who lives in Winston/Salem who has tons of JM in landscape - with seedlings everywhere. When he sees a seedling he finds interesting he digs it out and moves it into a nice location in his property. His favorite JM of all is a random seedling that he really liked, and he planted it by the front of his house years ago. To give you an idea of its size, he likes to climb into the branches, and there is a comfortable seating spot where he likes to relax and read

Don’t worry. I’m doing it!