AusBonsai

Hi folks.

I've been trying to grow some Japanese Maples from cuttings for a while but always end up with rotting cuttings.

My recent method. Took my cuttings in the middle of April (autumn in Sydney, probably not the best time to do this)
- Even mixture of perlite and sand
- Use rooting hormone (the red gel variety from bunnings)
- Put about 4 cuttings into a pot
- Placed half a clear plastic bottle over the cutting to keep warm and humid
- I probably spray every day or every 2nd day.
- I keep them in a room where they get filtered sunlight for about 5 hours a day

Some started to root after about 6-7 weeks. Some start leafing out within 2 weeks, but don't produce roots. Some weeks later the leaves die.
The ones which rooted started to rot. This is the most saddening thing. After all that work and daily care, it produces roots by rots anyway.

My endless problem of too much moisture. It's so difficult to keep the moisture level just right. Too much, and it gets too humid, bugs start appearing, and inevitable blackness on the cutting.
Just on friday i took some more cutting (3/7/2015). I have some outside wrapped in plastic bags.

Has anyone here had much success with rooting japanese maples from cuttings and anything i could improve upon? I'm going to try closer to spring next time.

My experience with maple cuttings is much the same as yours. It is probable that this is a fungal issue. I'd be treating the cuttings with a fungicide at the start and probably again halfway through or when roots appear. Good luck and let us know what happens

I don't have much success with cuttings period, BUT regarding moisture - I've been told and told again that if there are large drops on the bottle (when it cools down at night) then there is too much water under the bottle! What you are supposed to have is like a fog to tiny droplets I the bottles at most for the correct level of moisture... Please. note, I haven't got this process right yet! Perhaps is will help you some...


Cheers
EZ
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Have propagated a few and have done nothing different than other species.
I just leave them i the propagator till ready to pot up.

My propagator is a large Perspex box with a seed tray full of mix and thus has quite a bit of Air and usually has lots of water in the bottom.
I would try taking the lid off once you think they have roots.

Ken

Thank you all.

Ken did you have your propagator in filtered light? Was it inside our outside, and in what time of the year. I find that a tricky balance.

I will let you all know how my current batch do in about 8 weeks.

It is outside under my main benches. Gets direct sun on the edge of it in winter for about 1/2 the day.
Summer it is sheltered from above and only gets filtered light

I also use one of those small propagation boxes on a heating mat and placed outside. This time of year they get plenty of direct morning sun but in a few months I'd be moving it to a shaded area. I find hardwood cutting in winter to be the easiest. Softwood cuttings later in the year are harder here in Adelaide, probably due to the low humidity.
It's always easy to get some initial growth but after that it gets trickier. The great thing about the propagation boxes is the vents at the top of the box, so once the cuttings have been growing for a few weeks I gradually open the vents. After another few weeks I take the top off completely.

I have since discovered a new enemy
Fungus gnats.

These things or their larvae have eaten the fresh roots on some of my cuttings (and seedlings)

I have seen those little flies for ages, and just did some research on them today. They love damp moist growing medium and feast on the algae that grows in such places. I wondered why , when I checked some cuttings they clearly had roots. When I checked them several weeks later they had no roots, and were blackened and dead. Roots eaten!

itsfullofstars wrote:I have since discovered a new enemy
Fungus gnats.

These things or their larvae have eaten the fresh roots on some of my cuttings (and seedlings)

I have seen those little flies for ages, and just did some research on them today. They love damp moist growing medium and feast on the algae that grows in such places. I wondered why , when I checked some cuttings they clearly had roots. When I checked them several weeks later they had no roots, and were blackened and dead. Roots eaten!

Yeah I'm with you on the one, they knocked over most of my cuttings last year too. About 3/4's of them had calloused, but when I lifted them to check the larvae were all attached grrr

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Hehe horrible little critters!

Been reading up. My next batch of cuttings will use a layer of sand at the bottom of the pot, then my perlite/sand/potting mixture, then another layer of sand at the top.

The sand does not have organic material so may not attract the gnats.
If larvae is in the mixture, the sand will apparently prevent them from getting out.

From what I've read, they only live in the top inch of soil anyway, which is why they aren't usually a problem for established plants. Pretty sure I read somewhere top-dressing with a layer of gravel would put them off

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Here's the some of the batch i took 3/7/15.


A layer sand on the top to prevent fungus gnats, hasn't really worked is i can still see larvae squirming through the transparent container. Oh well. Some leaves trying to burst through. No idea if there are any roots yet.

But always hopeful.

Guys, I know nothing about these gnats, but would a light dose of systemic insecticide not help? Surely this would knock off the gnats?

Cheers,

Andrew

Hi guys
mix half of your mix with fine 1 -2 mm diatomite will sort the problem of the gnat larvae and also is a great medium for holding moisture for the cuttings
regards
peterb

A follow up.

That last batch i spoke of, did root!!

It's funny because i also put some outside in a pot for the rest of winter (with some red hormone gel from bunnings) and some of them rooted as well!!

So i had some inside in humid environments, under constant care and surveillance.
I had some outside sitting in a bit pot and put zero effort into them.

The rooting rate was about the same...

The attachment is from one i rooted inside in a mixture of perlite, sand and soil. with a layer of perlite up the top to combat the fungus gnats.
Oh and the thicker cuttings seemed more likely to root.


But i was away from home for a long time and they all died so i will try again