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Seedling
My best tree is a Tama Hime that I have had for about 25 years. I have largely just been pinching back for many years, but want to do some reshaping this coming year. I have a couple of questions that I would appreciate some feedback on:
1. I understand that the natural form for this cultivar is to grow wide and low. I have certainly observed this as the overall form looks like a lenticular cloud and any "apex" seems to lose vigor. I am planning to shorten some of the long horizontal branches and want to take air layers off to accomplish this. I am familiar with air layering, but am unsure if the Tama Hime will do well on its own roots. A previous thread seemed to indicate that it would, just looking for any seconds on that. If it won't, I am going to give grafting to some generic seedlings I have been growing a try.
2. There were some major branches broken and die back due to a vacation heatwave/watering issue years ago and while new branches grew from those points in the structure the tree developed large calluses that do not taper nicely (see picture example). I have been considering some measured reduction in the callus with proper sealing to try to get a smaller callus. Any thoughts on if this will work or how I should approach it?
3. I have one root that crosses over another root at the base (see picture). Do you think I can safely cut this root back? I want to cut it back far enough to not cross, but maybe not all the way to the trunk. Should I cut it in stages? I need to repot this year.
Thanks, John
1. I understand that the natural form for this cultivar is to grow wide and low. I have certainly observed this as the overall form looks like a lenticular cloud and any "apex" seems to lose vigor. I am planning to shorten some of the long horizontal branches and want to take air layers off to accomplish this. I am familiar with air layering, but am unsure if the Tama Hime will do well on its own roots. A previous thread seemed to indicate that it would, just looking for any seconds on that. If it won't, I am going to give grafting to some generic seedlings I have been growing a try.
2. There were some major branches broken and die back due to a vacation heatwave/watering issue years ago and while new branches grew from those points in the structure the tree developed large calluses that do not taper nicely (see picture example). I have been considering some measured reduction in the callus with proper sealing to try to get a smaller callus. Any thoughts on if this will work or how I should approach it?
3. I have one root that crosses over another root at the base (see picture). Do you think I can safely cut this root back? I want to cut it back far enough to not cross, but maybe not all the way to the trunk. Should I cut it in stages? I need to repot this year.
Thanks, John