AusBonsai

Anyone propagated Chinese Elm from Seed? Found a tree in a park today full of seed. Collected some and would like to know what I might best do to propagate them...

Webos wrote:Anyone propagated Chinese Elm from Seed? Found a tree in a park today full of seed. Collected some and would like to know what I might best do to propagate them...

Air layers and cuttings never bothered with seed. To old, as Asus likes to let every one know. I have found that Chinese elms strike from thick cutting and grow very quickly. Although for younger people it would be a way to get the perfect tree as you can control it right though to maturity.
I hope some one can help you with some pratical advice. Pup

If you still have 14 years in ya Pup, then you should be planting seed...I just read another post about a fella that raised seed, developed tree and got it into Kofuku in 14 years!

Thanks Pup

webs plant them now . they should pop by sept. nice basal flare and movement on a seedling straight away and grow on very quickly. definately worth it. as long as ya dont fill the back yard withm.

Will do.... Antonio, Did you stratify them or just plant them straight out?

straight out!

I am with Antonio on this seed growing idea. They seem to grow better and faster than cuttings. With most cuttings, you basically have a head start of about 1-2 years at the most, but after that, the seedlings will catch up and surpass the cuttings. I have cuttings of chinese elms that just stay about the same for years. They are not so vigorous as the seed-grown trees of mine. May be I am doing something wrong. But like Pup said, cuttings are good if you have a nice branch for an instant shohin. Root cuttings are also good for Chinese style shohins too, but they are weak growers too.Of course, air-layering is best if you have a chance at a big trunk.
Si

si im very passionate about people starting trees from seed if they are going to build great designs.

Maybe the best bet would be to plants some seeds and do some cuttings as well.

Just dont plant chinese elm in the ground to fatten them. You will never get rid of them once you cut the roots.

heres a couple 2 yr old seedlings. one was wired young and one was not. they have just been repotted and root worked severly. this next 2 yrs they will really power on stay tuned. ps if i could i would definately put them in the ground at this point!

Finally got around to digging up these pics that shows the trouble I go to with my Chinese elm seeds.
I have to treck all the way out the end of the driveway after a heavy rain but I guess it is worth it as they are already pre soaked. I basicly use this as a mulch in my growing area and what comes up is lucky. I had a bowl of elm seeds sitting in the shed that I was going to take more care with this year but my son made a nice mix of elm seeds and azalea fert so they all got spread under the azaleas in the front yard. They seem to be popping up in every pot around the place this year. Some how my cuttings tray is coverd in them?
The job for today will be elm collecting around the house of anything more than a year old. If anything decent comes out I will be sure to show you.

anttal63 wrote: ps if i could i would definately put them in the ground at this point!

Well if you never want to get rid of them, go for it..... I dont think I have I have ever spoken to someone growing them in the ground who has ever managed to get rid of them once in....

Asus101 wrote:

anttal63 wrote: ps if i could i would definately put them in the ground at this point!

Well if you never want to get rid of them, go for it..... I dont think I have I have ever spoken to someone growing them in the ground who has ever managed to get rid of them once in....

Thats OK 'cos you will allways have new Stock to pick from

I have had them in the ground and managed to avoid the problem, I moved house and left them there

Serioulsely tho I would also put them in the ground to develop

Ken

kcpoole wrote:

Asus101 wrote:
Well if you never want to get rid of them, go for it..... I dont think I have I have ever spoken to someone growing them in the ground who has ever managed to get rid of them once in....

Thats OK 'cos you will allways have new Stock to pick from

I have had them in the ground and managed to avoid the problem, I moved house and left them there

Serioulsely tho I would also put them in the ground to develop

Ken

I'm just warning people of the trouble they cause when roots are cut. I have seen people plant them in large troughs as a way to stop the issues with cut roots.
If you want a nice garden without Chinese elms taking over go for it, otherwise look into other methods of trunk thickening.