Reverse Bottle Propagation – Trial with 250 Bottles

[WNC Bonsai]

The Second tote was full of water:

View attachment 600865

Emptied it, removed the dead ones:

View attachment 600866

I think my biggest challenge is making sure the bottom of the water bottles don't fill up with too much water
I haven't opened any of the other ones yet; I want to wait another week as this week the temperature is in the 20s - I see a lot of leaves pushing up on the plastic

Still in the 20s, I’m surprised they haven’t frozen and died! Where are you keeping them and where is all the water coming from?

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Are they in complete darkness...? I didn't wee what you're covering them with.. clear plastic or a solid cover?

Covered in clear plastic - I used the totes because it was windy here in Southern Ontario
The heavy rain forced the branches on the inside to pierce the plastic

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

I am following this, but I am sceptical to be honest. But maybe red maples root a lot better than maples I see here.

I still haven't touched the red maple tote that is full of them and I can barely see inside as the humidity is high;

However it seems elms, sumac, dogwod, Poplar, Cedar have some roots beginning as there was resistance when I moved it.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Still in the 20s, I’m surprised they haven’t frozen and died! Where are you keeping them and where is all the water coming from?

Sorry I meant 20°C

20°C = 68°F

this week it will finally get warmer going as high as 27°C

They are on one of my patios under the wooden balcony/terrace

The heavy rain forced the plastic down and the branches on the inside tore it up

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

I opened all the totes yesterday; the temperature was nice and hot so I figured I should check.

Here's a silver maple; tried looking for roots down there, didn't see much, but there was much resistance when I moved it. I have a really good feeling


Here's the milk tote full of dogwood; the bottom is a plastic bag full of water:




Here are the two boxes that had 100% perlite; decent results


Here are the smaller maples (silver, sugar) that were in 100 perlite; this failed won't try it again in 100% perlite - in fact I'm not even sure how I got to the conclusion that 100% perlite is good for maples... Thinking back I planted like 200 seeds of different Japanese maple varieties in 100 perlite and 3 sprouted... I think a better mixture for cuttings and generally seedlings will be the OG potting mix + 30% perlite or diatomaceous earth



The first ever tote; this is the one which was full of water first a couple weeks ago; good results so far


Lastly the very thick cuttings:




Let's see how the year plays out with these

 

[Attmos]

I opened all the totes yesterday; the temperature was nice and hot so I figured I should check.

Here's a silver maple; tried looking for roots down there, didn't see much, but there was much resistance when I moved it. I have a really good feeling
View attachment 601222

Here's the milk tote full of dogwood; the bottom is a plastic bag full of water:
View attachment 601223View attachment 601224



Here are the two boxes that had 100% perlite; decent results
View attachment 601225View attachment 601226

Here are the smaller maples (silver, sugar) that were in 100 perlite; this failed won't try it again in 100% perlite - in fact I'm not even sure how I got to the conclusion that 100% perlite is good for maples... Thinking back I planted like 200 seeds of different Japanese maple varieties in 100 perlite and 3 sprouted... I think a better mixture for cuttings and generally seedlings will be the OG potting mix + 30% perlite or diatomaceous earth
View attachment 601227View attachment 601228


The first ever tote; this is the one which was full of water first a couple weeks ago; good results so far
View attachment 601229

Lastly the very thick cuttings:
View attachment 601230



Let's see how the year plays out with these

Another random question.. lol
Is it Kousa Dogwood? I've wanted to get one of those, but there are a few trees here in my building complex.

 

[ShaharyarSalman22]

Another random question.. lol
Is it Kousa Dogwood? I've wanted to get one of those, but there are a few trees here in my building complex.

Nah I'm pretty sure its Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

Try it out and let me know, because the two so far (from visuals and feel) that have had the best results consistently are dogwoods and elms.

I would say try it with the milk crate, you can find them anywhere, and just put 20-30 in one, with potting soil (70%) and perlite (30%)
Then just put the crate in a plastic bag and fill with a little water - you can put a couple bricks on the bottom to raise it

However do you think you should wait a till next spring?

 

[Attmos]

Nah I'm pretty sure its Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

Try it out and let me know, because the two so far (from visuals and feel) that have had the best results consistently are dogwoods and elms.

I would say try it with the milk crate, you can find them anywhere, and just put 20-30 in one, with potting soil (70%) and perlite (30%)
Then just put the crate in a plastic bag and fill with a little water - you can put a couple bricks on the bottom to raise it

However do you think you should wait a till next spring?

Yes, I'll wait until next spring. But it's inspiring to see your progress.