Cherry tree long internodes?

[pureheart]

Hello everyone,

What am I doing it wrong? I've got a cherry tree that I'm training and styling, I've recently defoliate d it and it came back with vigorous new growth but most of the new shoots have the first internode very long making it unusable for cut and growth techniques.... am I doing something wrong ? Am I fertilising too much?(every two weeks liquid fertiliser) thanks!


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[shibui]

I'm not an expert in cherries but have experienced this with other species as well. I was surprised to read in Canberra newsletter a comment that trees have grown far less this season. Here, mine have just continued to grow and I have had no letup in trimming all summer. After defoliation, one maple grew back with leaves larger and internodes longer than the initial shoots so maybe it is just the conditions this year influencing your cherry

It is possible that lots of fert will make long internodes.
We are told not to apply fert to pines just before and after decandling until the new candles have hardened. Why should deciduous trees be different?
Talking to Canberra members they related that the last visiting Japanese professional said he thought we were applying too much fert. Maybe there should be a difference in fert regime for growing (size/thickness) trees and for trees developing ramification? I have tried restricting fert for advanced trees in spring and early summer this year. So far no discernible difference but it may take a year or 2 to take effect.

In any case, don't be frightened of pruning long internodes off completely. New buds will form at the base of the shoot and (eventually) you should get growth with shorter internodes.

[pureheart]

Thank you Shibui! I'll keep cutting !Maybe next year I'll try a feeding regime of every 3 weeks instead of 2!


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[Jag001]

I'm not an expert in cherries but have experienced this with other species as well. I was surprised to read in Canberra newsletter a comment that trees have grown far less this season. Here, mine have just continued to grow and I have had no letup in trimming all summer. After defoliation, one maple grew back with leaves larger and internodes longer than the initial shoots so maybe it is just the conditions this year influencing your cherry

It is possible that lots of fert will make long internodes.
We are told not to apply fert to pines just before and after decandling until the new candles have hardened. Why should deciduous trees be different?
Talking to Canberra members they related that the last visiting Japanese professional said he thought we were applying too much fert. Maybe there should be a difference in fert regime for growing (size/thickness) trees and for trees developing ramification? I have tried restricting fert for advanced trees in spring and early summer this year. So far no discernible difference but it may take a year or 2 to take effect.

In any case, don't be frightened of pruning long internodes off completely. New buds will form at the base of the shoot and (eventually) you should get growth with shorter internodes.

Shibui,

I believe there is a difference in fertilizer requirements during different stages of development. This may be just an opinion however to my simple mind it makes sense.

I have also found the amount of sun that we expose our trees to also has an impact on the length of the internodes.

cheers,
Jeff

[shibui]

Yes to both those observations Jeff.
For a long time now I've promoted the idea of giving trees the most sun they can handle to reduce internode length. I can water well enough to keep most trees in full sun but many have not yet developed that skill and still need to give some shade.
As mentioned above I've moved from very little fert, as we were taught in the past, to lots of fert for all trees, now trialling less fert for more established bonsai. Will see how it goes......