I had a well rooted cutting and a rock I liked, so I figured why not give it a try and see what happens. My hope is that eventually the cotton cloth will break down and expose the roots. It may take a few years, so before then it should be covered in moss.
So the cotton cheese-cloth didn't last very long, it dissolved into mush pretty quickly. So I packed on more rockwool and re-rapped. I trimmed everything back to one node and it has divided nicely.
Jason Schley wrapped this winged elm in raffia. Unsure when he started it. But sat two years on my bench with my reapplying once a year. But burying it is the more common route. Did you still bind the roots in the rock with something else then?
I buried it as is. From what I could tell, at this point the roots are fine and more of a mat. I’m hoping some roots grow deep and thicken up. I’ll take it apart in the spring and have a look.
So I missed my yearly update on this. Thanks, cbrshadow23, for reminding me.
This past summer I slip potted it, and raised it up higher. When I brought it in this last fall I trimmed the foliage back about 50%.
so for now I’m letting the soil erode from the roots naturally, and keeping it trimmed.