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Propagation by water
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 12:05 pm
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:

You can see very small fine roots slowly growing off the shaved cuttings.

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
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
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 12:08 pm
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.
Re: Propagation by water
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 12:24 pm
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
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 1:54 pm
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?
Re: Propagation by water
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 2:24 pm
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.
Cheers
Elmar
Re: Propagation by water
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 2:31 pm
by Back-Bud

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.
Re: Propagation by water
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 4:06 pm
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
Posted: September 4th, 2015, 5:21 pm
by kcpoole
Pup successfully takes cutting of Melaleuca and Callistemon in water.
Try adding Honey and / or vegemite to it as well.
Ken
Re: Propagation by water
Posted: September 5th, 2015, 4:15 pm
by Ben Thomas
What will honey or Vegemite do????
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Re: Propagation by water
Posted: September 5th, 2015, 6:34 pm
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
Posted: September 5th, 2015, 6:43 pm
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.
Re: Propagation by water
Posted: September 5th, 2015, 9:50 pm
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
Posted: September 11th, 2015, 3:28 pm
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
This branch originally hand no buds when cut
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