Propagation by water

Discussions about propagating from cuttings, seeds, air layers etc. Going on a dig (Yamadori) or thinking of importing? Discuss how, when and where here.
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bonsai_beginner
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Propagation by water

Post by bonsai_beginner »

So my grandma once mentioned to me that she use to grow roots from cuttings by simply placing them in water for a while.

I decided to give this a go, however tweaking it ever so slightly.

I first gathered my cuttings (one from a Japanese maple I have) and a few from the plum tree out the back of our place.

I then shaved back the bark on all of the cuttings, dipped them in a bit of root hormone and let them sit in glasses of water inside the house, but with about 6 hours of sun light, for around 2 weeks now.

This is what has happened:
Image
You can see very small fine roots slowly growing off the shaved cuttings.

Image
This is what they look like.
The Japanese maple has really developed strongly, with big green leaves, and lots of them

The plum tree had had all almost all its flowers bloom (however I feel like this may have been a bad move on my part as it sucks a lot of energy out of it)

Anyway here is a comparison picture to the Japanese maple tree that the cutting were taken off

Image

I'm a little unsure as to when I should place them into soil, but I think I'll give the cuttings another month or two

Thanks
DK


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Re: Propagation by water

Post by Bougy Fan »

Are you sure that isn't a trident ? I am not sure the cuttings will live - they may end up rotting. The flowering and growing leaves is the same as when you have cut flowers in a vase.
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Re: Propagation by water

Post by bonsai_beginner »

I was a little worried about that too.
I'm a bit new to all this so I wasn't sure if it was simply going to rot out and die or if it would take and grown properly


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Re: Propagation by water

Post by Truth »

Those look like Trident maple leaves, not Japanese maple leaves.

I don't think this method is going to work too well. The leaves have only emerged due to the stored energy in the trunk/stalk. You have it inside so the leaves won't get adequate sunlight to photosynthesise well and maintain vigour.

Trident maples are incredibly hardy. They'll propagate via simple small cuttings planted into a humidified environment, or very easily by air-layering. Why try to re-invent the wheel?
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Re: Propagation by water

Post by Elmar »

Good on-ya B_B for having a go, never know what comes of it.

Being more aware of what is likely to work will guide you in your efforts to experiment and challenge the Status Quo.
There's a lot, and I mean A LOT of information by others that have been in your shoes and have learned and shared their experiences here so do searches, check out the Wiki (I do that every opportunity I get) read and learn, practice and when you've mastered (or are good at least) with one technique, work on the next.
No one is discouraging you from trying, but you'll get further faster by researching first and then making informed choices; I'm kinda speaking to myself here!
Good luck and enjoy.



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Re: Propagation by water

Post by Back-Bud »

:imo: water propagation CAN work with some species but I'd only recommended a couple of them ..... such as Willow, Sageretia and maybe Ficus. Subsequent root rot seems the most likely failure.
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Re: Propagation by water

Post by bonsai_beginner »

Thanks everyone for your inputs and information

This is why I come to this forum, you guys are always soo helpful and insightful

Thank you


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Re: Propagation by water

Post by kcpoole »

Pup successfully takes cutting of Melaleuca and Callistemon in water.
Try adding Honey and / or vegemite to it as well.

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Re: Propagation by water

Post by Ben Thomas »

What will honey or Vegemite do????

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Re: Propagation by water

Post by angelozoras »

Have grown Chinese elm japanese cedar fuschia juniper and some aussie natives from this method I wait until the roots are quite strong or even allow them to fill half the glass or vases before putting them out in soil once in soil ill place under a tree where they would get some part sun and shade good luck with the propagating

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Re: Propagation by water

Post by Graeme »

Ben Thomas wrote:What will honey or Vegemite do????

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Honey is a natural stimulant and contains healing, antiseptic properties and Vegemite is loaded with Vitamin B. Both are said to aid the development of roots in plants.
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Re: Propagation by water

Post by bonsai_beginner »

angelozoras wrote:Have grown Chinese elm japanese cedar fuschia juniper and some aussie natives from this method I wait until the roots are quite strong or even allow them to fill half the glass or vases before putting them out in soil once in soil ill place under a tree where they would get some part sun and shade good luck with the propagating

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Wow! That's really interesting! So there are quite a few species that will actually grow roots successfully this way


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Propagation by water

Post by bonsai_beginner »

This is another cutting i took off a large fruit tree. I wasn't sure if it would take as it was soo large but by the look of it, it's doing quite well. Heaps of buds have appeared all over the new tree

Image

Image

Image

Image

This branch originally hand no buds when cut

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Last edited by bonsai_beginner on September 11th, 2015, 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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