eliminating grafts.

[Beetleman72]

AcI recently bought some nice varieties of maple via eBay, 4 shindeshojo and 1 sharps pygmy, well I didn't think to ask if they were grafted or not so of course they all were grafted. How would you suggest getting roots above the graft so that I can cut the grafted part out. I was thinking air layer or torniquet above the graft and bury above that.

 

[Stan Kengai]

Sharp's pygmy does well on its own roots. I have several I've air-layered from a mature landscape specimen. Can't help you with the other one though.

The best way to air-layer, IMO, is to fit a nursery can around the trunk, fill with bonsai soil, and keep it damp. If you're not able to water reliably, the bag method works fine. Just be sure your medium isn't too damp. Tourniquet method on maples is sometimes unreliable because they can callus over the wire. Applying a tourniquet at the top of an air-layer will often produce a nice swollen base. Layering is best performed once the leaves have hardened off in the spring.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I was wondering if generally, grafted varieties would develop faster on the grafted roots? Say plant in the ground for a couple years and then air layer a nice thick branch? This is a question and not neccesarily a recommendation.

 

[Beetleman72]

I was wondering if generally, grafted varieties would develop faster on the grafted roots? Say plant in the ground for a couple years and then air layer a nice thick branch? This is a question and not neccesarily a recommendation.

That's a really good idea! I hadn't considered that, does anyone have any experience with this method?

 

[Stan Kengai]

Sharp's pygmy trunks up just fine on its own roots. The only reason you see them grafted is because that's the fastest and easiest way to propagate them, nurserymen are taking the easy way out. And who can blame them when most people don't even know what a graft is.

 

[Beetleman72]

So what's the best way to get roots above the grafts? I just got a shisho Improved variety maple as well and its also grafted. So I have 4 shindeshojo, 1 sharps pygmy, and 1 shisho all grafted. When I potted up the shisho I made a small tourniquet with wire and covered the grafted part. I have a hard time doing a tourniquet without scarring up the bark. Any pointers on tourniqueting small trees without messing up the bark? Also what's the best and safest way to develop radial roots above the graft?

 

[0soyoung]

So what's the best way to get roots above the grafts? I just got a shisho Improved variety maple as well and its also grafted. So I have 4 shindeshojo, 1 sharps pygmy, and 1 shisho all grafted. When I potted up the shisho I made a small tourniquet with wire and covered the grafted part. I have a hard time doing a tourniquet without scarring up the bark. Any pointers on tourniqueting small trees without messing up the bark? Also what's the best and safest way to develop radial roots above the graft?

Just make a girdle - cut away the bark with a sharp knife and clean off the cambium in a ring around the tree. Then wrap a split pot around the tree, fill it with you favorite bonsai mix and wait for roots. There are abundant threads here, on other forums, bonsai web sites, blogs, and garden books about how to do it (air/ground layering).The tourniquet method will make some impressive basal flare, but it will take several seasons, at best. At worst you will have to make the girdle anyway.

BTW, you've got some great JM cultivars