propagators for tree cuttings

Can anyone tell me if you can use a propagator with bottom heat for maple cuttings ?

I think maple rootstock is usually grown from seed and then possibly grafted with another variety.

But, if maple cuttings will root I would think a propagator with bottom heat would help.

kingbean wrote:Can anyone tell me if you can use a propogater with bottom heat for maple cuttings ?

Kingbean,

I have produced plants from Japanese maple (and others) from cuttings for many years with varing degrees of success depending on the cultivar. Timing is the most critical issue and I have found that late summer cuttings (when the new growth has matured and the new wood is considered "half-hard") is the best time to strike the cuttings. Depending on your environment you may or maynot need bottom heating to enhance rooting. If your night time temperatures stay in the 65-70 Degree F range you will not require a heating bed, if not, it would be wise to use one. I saw your other thread on A.p. "arakawa" and from my experience it roots quite easily. If you have cooler summers, rooted cuttings will be slower at making sufficient mass and you may encounter some winter loss. This can be mitigated by extending the summer environment by providing additional light and heat into the fall and then letting them go into dormancy and keeping them at around 38 Degrees F. for at least the first winter.

hope that helps,
Randy Davis

Many many thanks Randy.
That was what i am worried about the first winter Randy.

I agree with all that Randy says. I use a heated propagator to good effect in the UK. Some varieties are easy, some are nigh on impossible and have to be grafted. Vertrees's book is a mine of information if you want to explore further.

So kev do you continue to use the heated propogater during winter ?
Thanks fot telling me about that book by the way im trying to get a copy as we speak.

I use a heated bed in winter and early spring for newly collected yamadori. The propagator actually goes on top of the heated bed for cuttings in summer.

Thank you kev.