Maples: propagation by cuttings

There are many ways to propagate maples for bonsai, from April to the end of August, I mainly use the propagation by cuttings for many varieties of maples.


At first, I prepared the cuttings, spring stems, here the variety is Acer palmatum 'Deshojo'.


After 3 weeks, the concentration of stem cells at the base of the cutting, and and a new root system will appear.


New root system is formed (Acer deshojo), after 4 weeks, rooting rate is about 70%.


Rooted trident maples, rooting rate is about 90%, after 4 weeks.


I mainly used peat moss plus wood charcoal as the substrate.



Regards,
giang
www.lotus-bonsai.com

Thank you for taking the time to post this. Very useful.

Have a great week!!!
Sam

Nice! Do you use hormones? i didn't have luck with some acer cuttings, all died. They even developed roots, but then the branches started to acquire a black color, and they died. Maybe u know why?

Thanks.

I have personally only had luck rooting cuttings (and having them survive) from seed grown acer species, common reds and greens, tridents, amur, field maple, and north american native varieties, I have read that most grafted species do not do well, or have a high survival rate if rooted, however I have also read of a few nurseries and varieties that have had higher success rates. With my red and green j. maple cuttings I use a rooting hormone, I generally have not had to with my tridents or field maples.

Victorghirotto wrote:Nice! Do you use hormones? i didn't have luck with some acer cuttings, all died. They even developed roots, but then the branches started to acquire a black color, and they died. Maybe u know why?

Thanks.

Probably, your soil was too wet.

JimLewis wrote:Probably, your soil was too wet.

Ouch, i think that was it! I'm used to Ficus cuttings, they like wetness. And, i have a certain concern about the soil dry out.

Thanks, i shall try again

Hello,
For any type of propagation, we need to be clean as the way we prepare our daily food in order to limit the development of micro organisms. Black branches, stems... are due to moisture. At night I let open my green houses, till 10am, then i start spaying fresh water to maintain the freshness of the cuttings for the whole day. In this way, we allow good air circulation and avoid moisture on the leaves.

I dont use any type of hormones. There are some maple varieties easy can be propagated easily by cuttings such as Deshojo, Phoenix, Katsura, Orange Dream, Koto Hime, Seigen....but some are very difficult such as Osakazuki, in this case, I propagate by seedlings or grafting on the Acer palmatum.

Now, it's a great time for propagation any type of green leaf trees such as Punica, Ficus, Bougainviller, Carmona, Seregetia, Serissa, Prunus mume, Prunus triloba, Olea, Zelkova, Ulmus, Wrightia, Jaminum, Largerstroemia...

For the Juniperus, Podocarpus,and bamboo, I propagate later in winter.

regards,
giang

Hello Giang. I see Prunus mume in you list. I've not had any good results with this yet - do you have any special method or tips for this? Cheers. Rick.

At first, I prepared the cuttings, spring stems, here the variety is Acer palmatum 'Deshojo'.

Please give more detail regarding the manner of preparation for the cuttings. Thank you.

Hi giangus. Thanks for the answer!
Actually, i keep the cuttings in no greenhouse. Ficus cutting do well here.

And here in Brazil now is winter. And its hot anyway... I even have one ulmus and one acer, they are sprouting now at these days.

Thanks.

Hi Rick,
At first, I prepare the Prunus mume genitors in March, in greenhouse with frequent fertilizations and watering. in this way till of May, I have well developed stems to propagate by cuttings.


A 20cm Prunus mume stem (2 months old)


I selected just 2 cuttings from the base. At this phase, the stem is strong enough to resist against fungis and soft eanough to contain embryo cells to form a calus before creating a new root system.


I cut off the pair of leaves into half to reduce the evaporation, as the cuttings live on their own reserve.



Prunus mume propagation by cuttings usually doesnt give us an expected rooting rate, professional nurseries often propagate by seedlings and grapting on the Prunus myrobalan.

@Carolee,
I prepare the Acer palmatm this way:

A 20cm branch (between 6 & 10 weeks old)

I selected the 2 first cuttings from the stem base.

I reduced the leaves into half.

I do the same way for:









giang

giang - thankyou very much for that detail and for sharing your expertise/experience. I will try again following that method closely. Cheers. Rick.

Would like to see how are your cuttings.