AusBonsai

I have managed to get a few JBP cuttings to strike again this year. These cuttings were set on July 27. This year I have used straight perlite as the medium because I think the normal perlite/peat mix I use stays too wet for pines. Cuttings were dipped in rooting gel and placed under intermittent mist. No bottom heat.
results of this batch is: 6 struck with strong roots, 6 still looking healthy with callussed bases may still strike, 10 with slightly yellow needles could go either way, 10 definitely dead. Not an outstanding result but the technique does work and could be improved to give better rates.
There are more cuttings in the perlite/peat mix as a control. No sign of roots yet but they actually look better than these ones. I also have more taken at different times to see if timing has any effect on strike rate. Will update as more results are available.

Look good Neil.

Well done Neil !!! Do you think bottom heat is the answer to a higher success rate ???

Good on ya Shibui I have been trying for ages and havent cracked it yet.

Good achievement, Neil. So far I have not succeeded with my JBP cuttings. Will try again using perlite.
Have u tried cuttings of the Yasabushi (spelling?) variety of JBP ?

Cheers,

CJ

Looks like there will be some nice surface roots on some of those in the near future!

I'd be interested to see the other ones too if they root, it'd be good to know which method yields better

Well done If only I was borne again

I took 7 jbp cuttings in mid August 2011. Only 2 survived. I was frustrated with this result so I took another at the start of Autumn (March) 2012 just for the hell of it, and to my surprise it survived
All were potted in 50/50 chopped spagnum moss and diatomite. I planted the cuttings in a plastic cookie container that had a fitted lid with holes punched into it. The soil mix was close to 10cm deep so that it would not dry out too quickly, and I kept them outside in a semi-shaded spot.
I also used powdered rooting hormone and honey (lots of honey).I did not use bottom heat or a misting system. However late afternoon each day for the first three months I sprayed them with a water bottle. After that I did not mist them as frequently.
Pics from a few days ago... Thought I would include the jbp seedlings I purchased from Scott... Cheers, Dario.
PS Neil I hope you are ok with me posting in your thread...figured it was relevant.

Good feedback everyone.
Ant, i do not have bottom heat so no use even speculating. Some species do better without so not sure. I'm hoping refinment of technique and timing might improve strike rate.
NZTT, I have tried other species but not other JBP varieties. When I get acess to different varieties I will try some but don't have any available at this stage.
Scott, Will keep everyone informed as results become available. JBP seed has germinated well. 30 pricked out into individual pots the rest left in the seed tray to grow on a but further for now.
Dario, Thanks for the input - no need to apologise to me. I'm not precious about who posts on threads I start. i figure all info is good info. Very interesting to hear about March cuttings. More things to try....

Shibui,

How are these ones doing? I have recently got hold of a nishiki JBP, and want to take some cuttings and graft some seedlings.

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has experience with cuttings/layering or grafting cork bark Japanese Black Pine?

Scott Roxburgh wrote:Shibui,

How are these ones doing? I have recently got hold of a nishiki JBP, and want to take some cuttings and graft some seedlings.

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has experience with cuttings/layering or grafting cork bark Japanese Black Pine?

Scott
All nishiki i believe are grafted as they are so weak on there own roots. im yet to come across one not , even in japan i believe most are grafted but Jow and a few others may correct me. I dont think they would be any harder to graft to JBP than any other cultivar but just remember the tidier the graft the better the outcome in future it will be. Alot of jwp are grafted onto jbp simply for this fact also that jbp roots are so much more vigious and develop a larger trunk quicker.

As far as I know most nishiki black pines are grafted.

Today I read an interesting article from Takamatsu about a new black pine variety.

http://bonsai.shikoku-np.co.jp/en/shugi ... -fast.html

Interesting read.

I note that you took the cuttings in July, is that right Shibui?
If so I might give it a crack, what is a few more trees to look after anyway
Interesting to read about the new Kyoryuku variety, will we ever see it here?

Damian, the original cuttings I struck many years ago were taken in winter from older trees, ie matured shoots of previous season's growth so you may well be able to strike some now and, as Dario has shown, maybe other times of the year as well. note that strike rates from stem cuttings have never been really prolific and that is very much different to the cuttings of juvenile wood featured at the start of this thread. Good luck.

I have a short needle variety that I will give a go.
I will soak the cuttings in some hb101 and some other growth stimulants and go OTT in a couple of other ways to give them a good start.
It grafts well too (doesn't look disproportionate)