Extended season starting trees indoors

[cmeg1]

Just some little projects

These Field Maples seem really great for the indoor tents.It is difficult to get a bunch to sprout.I guess a double dormancy or something.Out of a pound of seed o ly a few germinate,so I will put these back i to cold storage and see if they eventually start to sprout.

This Siberian Elm seedling air-layer I plan on keeping.It is growing in a slab of Grodan Stonewool without any covering.Should get very vigorous after settling and air-pruning to the max.I want to fatten up the trunk by letting a leader run……as you can see.
This should be very fast and even be put outside in Spring for a very nice trunk from sacrifice growth at the leader.

 

[cmeg1]

THE TINY ZELKOVA BROOM


The layered base has some healing to do,but otherwise looks fine.
I am suprised…..there must be some bark and cambium attached somewhere.
I will eventually get some taller ones made…..this was an experiment to see what can be possible.
I am happy with the density on this.

 

[mwar15]

I would be real curious how this process would work with a zushio white pine. They are so in demand. I would be curious if it would work

 

[cmeg1]

how this process would work with a zushio white pine.

This would be very fun…especially air layering Zuisho shoots.
Perhaps eventually this season I can afford a stock plant and prepare with a Motherplant regime for increased success.

It is amazing how co2 fertilization and preperation can increase success…..it makes things 50% faster with my normal propogation efforts…….but if something is not known to root…..it just does not root and usually just builds massive amounts of callous…………Zuisho seems worth the time and effort though.

 

[mwar15]

The tough part is getting the stock right now. It would be worth a try. How well does it work with older pine material?

 

[cmeg1]

How well does it work

Never tried

 

[cmeg1]

LOTS OF SEEDLING CUTTINGS POTTING…..funtime!!!

Looking nice….about 100% success…….out of 120….there are 116 full and radial rooting cuttings like pictures!!!
400 more on the way

 

[Srt8madness]

Those look awesome, looking forward to buying some from your store!

When germinating in perlite, let them grow until the stems change color, then clip and replant in sand or rockwool? Is that about right?

Here's one tray of my current. Larch in foreground, JBP in back

 

[Crazy Diamond]

THE TINY ZELKOVA BROOM


The layered base has some healing to do,but otherwise looks fine.
I am suprised…..there must be some bark and cambium attached somewhere.
I will eventually get some taller ones made…..this was an experiment to see what can be possible.
I am happy with the density on this.
View attachment 419540View attachment 419541

How old its that zelkova aprox?

 

[roberthu]

Any thoughts on getting Japanese Red Pine seedlings too?
Also, when do you expect to have the next batch of JBP for sale?

 

[cmeg1]

How old its that zelkova aprox?

5 mnths,2 wks

 

[cmeg1]

Any thoughts on getting Japanese Red Pine seedlings too?
Also, when do you expect to have the next batch of JBP for sale?

Have not considered red pine as of late……perhaps a batch this season.

The Black pines be ready in May.

 

[roberthu]

Have not considered red pine as of late……perhaps a batch this season.

The Black pines be ready in May.

May can be hot for shipping JBP. Especially shipping to Florida where I am at…

 

[cmeg1]

Jbp Seedling Cutting update….

The initial 3-4 hour dunks in fulvic acid/kelp solution seem to be a suitable and safe method so far.
These only had one application….. a 4 hr one no less , and are fine.They are currently in the root starting phase for a few weeks with extra mono ammonium phosphate.

I can see very early signs of the low budding of future shoots…( circled in picture). This should only improve.I especially like good ,long 3-4 hour soaks in the solution in this VERY early stage when the stem is green and succulent……kelp is definately absorbing directly into plant cells and creating this auxin inhibiting effect to trigger the early budding response.
They are also getting a good ,lite dose of the yucca powder.This is noted for having fungicidal benefits and also strength to deter issues of extreme heat and drought….(totally experimental).Whatever desert plants have………these pines are getting it!!!

I have high expectations with this crop and am really excited for Spring to see the outcome.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

For prebonsai material what organic material you recomend in the mix for a good growth? coco coir, bark, peat, other?

 

[cmeg1]

Those look awesome, looking forward to buying some from your store!

When germinating in perlite, let them grow until the stems change color, then clip and replant in sand or rockwool? Is that about right?

Here's one tray of my current. Larch in foreground, JBP in backView attachment 420747

The biggest help is a 1:1 fertilizer ratio like clonex solution……..more advanced tech will add amino acids L glutamic L glutamate for 1000 times more calcium absorption( npk amino brand is good)…..some kelp powder( npk brand powder).

A weekly foliar feed of fulvic acid and kelp powder at 5:2 ratio ONLY ONCE A WEEK.

Then take cuts at END OF LIGHT CYCLE 2 HOURS AFTER A WATERING While lights are still on.
This will ensure lots and lots of photosythesis energy build befor it all drains to the roots over night.
Will root 50% quicker!!!!!!!!! Word……proven and tested by me personally.

Yes red stems up to base of needles nearly……so can make a 1/4” stem base…….dip in 10x strength Dip& Grow for 5 minutes.

Also a mix of perlite with shredded orchid spahgnum in top 2” will give extra moisture…….water every 5 days and bottom heat at 85 f……..or 75 f if concerned of pathogens…….85f will root a week or so faster.

Use a dome and bottom heat w/thermometer like a super sprouter…….buy a Grodan Smart Tray insert to elevate some smal trays….set inside a 10x20 domes tray with no holes…….fill water regulary in botom of 10x20 1/2” so always super humid…….dry stems make weak roots…….bottom water or dunk with plain water or preferably kelp every 5 days to ensure stem moisture………..kelp will explode roots after callous forms.


Do a thourough foliar application of fulvic acid powder & kelp powder every 7-10 days…NO MORE OR WILL BURN.

roots can be daily though.

Add yucca powder to get the effect in picture below or just dunk( dunking can be hard to do with a granular type media though).

Npk brand has yucca,kelp and full up products in quite small 2 oz qty for foliar needs.

I obviously prefer stonewool after the cutting stage because I can dunk the foliar feed into them

 

[cmeg1]

For prebonsai material what organic material you recomend in the mix for a good growth? coco coir, bark, peat, other?

Pre bonsai in small containers are great in a 70/30 mix of grade #2 horticultural perlite / chunky vermiculite( preferably bought from a rather local hydro store in bulk).

In pots approaching 1 gallon and bigger can use
#3 perlite and a VERY chunky vermiculiteEXTRA chunky vermiculite is usually special order,but is quite amazing and same size as #3 perlite.

Also grodan grow cubes …along with grade #3 perlite is excellent…about 50/50.

These are all volcanic …..even the stonewool, so you got to pH the nutrient to 5.5 to 6.5. and you will have tremendous results …..the only real problem will be slight micro nutrient deficiencies that are easily remedied……this is assuming a salt based feed……organics are a different approach and microbes are actually quite neccesary to break down organic type phospherous like rock phosphate and such…….nontheless organics in solution are very good in a volcanic substrate(npk) though I’ve not much experience.

Pictured is #2 perlite and vermiculite…….next grade 3 is bigger and good for 1 gallon and larger and then Grodan cubes are a terrific substrate at 50/50 with #3 perlite……or the #3 vermiculite is outstanding also with #3 perlite…..adjust ratios with gallon pots.

 

[cmeg1]

more early shoots

There is definately some action going on here …..quite early too.They look to be shoots,not mature needles.They are like white fuzzy bits just protruding from the immature needle sets.

 

[MaciekA]

Hi Curtis, question about the rockwool grow cubes:

Is it difficult to untangle roots out of this stuff when it's finally time to transfer to a granular medium? Is this a drawback of the method?

 

[cmeg1]

Hi Curtis, question about the rockwool grow cubes:

Is it difficult to untangle roots out of this stuff when it's finally time to transfer to a granular medium? Is this a drawback of the method?

For me they grow an inch of trunk a year it just seems like it disappears .I mean after all the research I found it is essentially stone it just looks like wet Sandy akadama to me after an inch or two of trunk growth …..it literally just turns to wood and roots in my opinion.I myself wondered that too in the beginning and have found only positive attributes of this media if used correcty.

**** yeah I was referring to the 2 inch mini cubes that grow all my starters ….I see you may be referring to the cubes stonewool media that you mix with Perlite.
Alone by itself the little tiny cubes are good in small pots or grow pouches for starters and then I would treat just like a 2” stonewool mini block full of roots and disappearing.I see no problem mixing the cubes media 50-50 with large grade perlite in a gradual start from a 2 inch mini cube up to graded system of bigger and bigger pots because you’re always root pruning back ,but then again have I taken to this? no ,not really.
Absolutely for growout and Starters in my opinion .It is basalt stone.Never degrades.
I will probably incorporate these or the gro wool media when I finally put tress in bonsai pots.
I will probably resort to large grade perlite,super chunky 1/2” or 3/8” vermiculite….and interlaced with growwool or something or as a top layer.

I am just so used to hydro media……..I also like to line my bonsai pots with an entrapment self pruning fabric.
Also the gro wool type stonewool will get a nice green color especially in a small layer on top of media.
But ,yes
I have no bonsai in pots yet