prunus cuttings

[jaycraig]

so i had these cuttings from a white petal cherry tree (think it’s a yoshiro) for 2 weeks now and i left them for the weekend (wanted to bring them with me but i got caught up and was running late) with a plastic garbage bag over them thinking that was enough to keep them moist but when i came back they all dried up. no idea what killed them but when i look back i should’ve poked some holes in it for oxygen.

any tips you guys have for next time? how does the whole keep them moist thing works. are they better off in a greenhouse and spray them twice a day or a plastic bag works better as long as they get some air time?

i plan to take some more cuttings today

 

[jaycraig]

would the softwood be optimum or the semi hardwood?
and i just noticed fruits are starting to bud also is it still safe to take cuttings now?

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Hardwood cuttings in late winter I think would be the best option

 

[jaycraig]

Hardwood cuttings in late winter I think would be the best option

what about the softwood can i take them now or wait a week or 2 for the leaves to harden? they seem to be actively growing atm

 

[rodeolthr]

I've had good luck with the softwood cuttings just after they "harden" on Mt Fuji and Kwanzan. (end of May, beginning of June) I cut them just where they joined the old wood and then into perlite with bottom heat and artificial light. Cuttings were 6-8" and removed all but about 4 leaves.

 

[jaycraig]

I've had good luck with the softwood cuttings just after they "harden" on Mt Fuji and Kwanzan. (end of May, beginning of June) I cut them just where they joined the old wood and then into perlite with bottom heat and artificial light. Cuttings were 6-8" and removed all but about 4 leaves.

ahhh that gave me some insight. i don’t have any heating pads nor suitable artificial lights but i do have a greenhouse, gonna have to make do with that. i plan to do some kwanzan next week also when the leaves have fully harden off

 

[Backwardsvg]

I have had some luck with straight play sand, cuttings, clear plastic bag, rubber band and placing them on the north side of a structure. Somewhere will there will be 0 direct sunlight but tons of bright light. It stays incredibly moist / humid in the bag and if the pot needs water just taking it off do a light water and then mist the bag before putting it back on.

Most the time I have not needed to water the sand again. Wait 4-8 weeks (or more) depending on what you are rooting. I have started using clear plastic cups as I can see the roots when / if they come. Kind of helps me as I am new to taking cuttings.

I think there is a huge science to this and many others could give far better examples but I have seen things like MSUs 3 second mist every 2 minutes way of doing cuttings and some people just stick them in the dirt under a bench and let nature do its thing. I have seen both be successful. I guess it depends on how far into the weeds you want to go ?

 

[jaycraig]

I have had some luck with straight play sand, cuttings, clear plastic bag, rubber band and placing them on the north side of a structure. Somewhere will there will be 0 direct sunlight but tons of bright light. It stays incredibly moist / humid in the bag and if the pot needs water just taking it off do a light water and then mist the bag before putting it back on.

Most the time I have not needed to water the sand again. Wait 4-8 weeks (or more) depending on what you are rooting. I have started using clear plastic cups as I can see the roots when / if they come. Kind of helps me as I am new to taking cuttings.

I think there is a huge science to this and many others could give far better examples but I have seen things like MSUs 3 second mist every 2 minutes way of doing cuttings and some people just stick them in the dirt under a bench and let nature do its thing. I have seen both be successful. I guess it depends on how far into the weeds you want to go ?

i’ve seen local pinus rigida and bloodgood seedlings be grown in straight up sand so i’m not taken back by this method. i think i’ll try both ways, play sand and peat moss/ perlite

 

[Backwardsvg]

I have noticed that I sometimes love my cuttings to death. Now I have become a bit more heartless and it seems to work better. Also the sand I like because I had issues with rot etc with anything that retained water more/ might have had fungus or bacteria in it.

 

[jaycraig]

I have noticed that I sometimes love my cuttings to death. Now I have become a bit more heartless and it seems to work better. Also the sand I like because I had issues with rot etc with anything that retained water more/ might have had fungus or bacteria in it.

how often a day do you uncover them to mist/ water?

 

[Backwardsvg]

I used to all the time. Now I might the first day as often as I can. Luckily work from home allows that. But then after the first day or so I will just let them go. I am also trying cut milk jugs and water bottles to allow more air exchanges in the bottle so they don’t get stale or moldy etc. on some rose cuttings I have even let the top completely off and it seems like that works well.
I have watched a lot of mike Kincaid on YouTube he is not a bonsai guy but he is a master propagator
.

 

[jaycraig]

I used to all the time. Now I might the first day as often as I can. Luckily work from home allows that. But then after the first day or so I will just let them go. I am also trying cut milk jugs and water bottles to allow more air exchanges in the bottle so they don’t get stale or moldy etc. on some rose cuttings I have even let the top completely off and it seems like that works well.
I have watched a lot of mike Kincaid on YouTube he is not a bonsai guy but he is a master propagator
.

do you take softwood cuttings from branches that are still producing new leaves or you wait?

 

[Backwardsvg]

It is very dependent on the type of plant I am going for. I have mainly used softwood cuttings. For example on a burning bush I am doing I waited till I could bend the branch and hear a snap almost like when you snap a green pea that clean snap of softwood. Not hardwood. Then I did the above.

Again depends on what you are taking cuttings for. I am NOT A PRO AT ALL and am learning a lot this growing season already. Please take my advice with a grain of salt and ask others who are much more qualified as well

 

[Backwardsvg]

Here is another method I am trying. 1 plastic cup filled with soaked perlite, in a bowl of about 1/2 inch water, then the boxwood cuttings inside of that with a plastic cup with a hole in the top placed on top, all under grow lights in a high natural light area.

keeps the humidity up, perlite doesn’t completely dry out due to the capillary effects I hope, and then the small hole on top allows some heat/ air flow to keep things clean inside?

We’ll see if it works!

 

[jaycraig]

Here is another method I am trying. 1 plastic cup filled with soaked perlite, in a bowl of about 1/2 inch water, then the boxwood cuttings inside of that with a plastic cup with a hole in the top placed on top, all under grow lights in a high natural light area.

keeps the humidity up, perlite doesn’t completely dry out due to the capillary effects I hope, and then the small hole on top allows some heat/ air flow to keep things clean inside?

We’ll see if it works!

hey fingers crossed!!

ok so if you look at the picture with the 2 cuttings on the left has some immature leaves and the right has 2 whole leaves with one cut in half.

the one on the right i cut the immature leaves off, i don’t know if that would affect it in any way. which would have the better success rate?

 

[Backwardsvg]

hey fingers crossed!!

ok so if you look at the picture with the 2 cuttings on the left has some immature leaves and the right has 2 whole leaves with one cut in half.

the one on the right i cut the immature leaves off, i don’t know if that would affect it in any way. which would have the better success rate?

If there are those immature leaves coming out I usually snip them off (again a good experiment maybe it helps to keep them not sure yet). I think either should work as long as it was taken at the right time has enough spots for root growth, add a rooting powder or gel or something and then kept warm and moist either should work.

Again blind leading the blind haha. Here are some good videos this is the guy I was talking about

 

[jaycraig]

If there are those immature leaves coming out I usually snip them off (again a good experiment maybe it helps to keep them not sure yet). I think either should work as long as it was taken at the right time has enough spots for root growth, add a rooting powder or gel or something and then kept warm and moist either should work.

Again blind leading the blind haha. Here are some good videos this is the guy I was talking about

if these fail i’m coming back for you hahah nah i have the general idea just a few things i wasn’t sure of but i think i got this. thanks for the pointers my man

 

[Kullas]

On the plants I dont know about i will take some cutting and put them in soil some in water and some covered. I have had success with all 3 methods with different species. Some species success with all 3