Anyone try the clone machines with japanese maples ?

[tigerscott79]

maybe bit odd question but wondered if anyones tried the clone machines that use either a air stone bubbler or water spray misters that you insert cuttings inthe neoprene/foam collars . just curious if worth cost to root cuttings this way or meh ?

 

[andrewiles]

Yes, the spray misters with foam collars work well. I've found maples root better this way than via other methods I've tried. Probably because of the increased humidity (keep the plastic domes on). Only softwood cuttings in summer though, not winter hardwood cuttings. Best time for cuttings is right after the first flush of growth begins to harden off in mid spring. Only indirect or morning sun.

 

[tigerscott79]

Yes, the spray misters with foam collars work well. I've found maples root better this way than via other methods I've tried. Probably because of the increased humidity (keep the plastic domes on). Only softwood cuttings in summer though, not winter hardwood cuttings. Best time for cuttings is right after the first flush of growth begins to harden off in mid spring. Only indirect or morning sun.

Wondering your thoughts on this one as idk alot about them and so many are super pricey and others are so different . https://www.amazon.com/24-Site-Clon...4&psc=1&mcid=146b979fb1f833cd95367dba0a06b0d4. Hope links are ok newer to this forum so not sure

 

[andrewiles]

I personally wouldn't bother with a light on the cloning machine. If you're using this with softwood cuttings in summer you can probably find a shady spot outside. You really don't want too much light with unrooted cuttings. Once they show a few roots they can be potted up and gradually given more light.

Two things to keep in mind. First, different cultivars root with differing levels of success. This thread is a good place to check if anyone has had success with your maple. Second, even after rooting, they tend to have low success rates surviving the first winter unless you get a new flush of growth before dormancy. This either means rooting them early enough in the season that they have time to do that, or giving them supplemental light, and potentially heat, after rooting. You'll only need to worry about the second option if you take cuttings later, and/or you are trying to root cultivars that are very slow to root.

 

[tigerscott79]

I personally wouldn't bother with a light on the cloning machine. If you're using this with softwood cuttings in summer you can probably find a shady spot outside. You really don't want too much light with unrooted cuttings. Once they show a few roots they can be potted up and gradually given more light.

Two things to keep in mind. First, different cultivars root with differing levels of success. This thread is a good place to check if anyone has had success with your maple. Second, even after rooting, they tend to have low success rates surviving the first winter unless you get a new flush of growth before dormancy. This either means rooting them early enough in the season that they have time to do that, or giving them supplemental light, and potentially heat, after rooting. You'll only need to worry about the second option if you take cuttings later, and/or you are trying to root cultivars that are very slow to root.

yea i had only wanted the machine and dome but sadly no where seems to have the domes to buy and that one only comes with either machine no dome or machine with dome and light the dome sold seperate is out of stock and only 1 place online sales the dome seperate for 75$ when dome is only 20 $ on the company site thought out of stock . so wondered if the combo (even though has lights ) is a decent one for that price. most at that price range have no domes weirdly enough which i feel is important to the process on some species . sorry ik late so hope my response isnt annoying idk time zone everyones in . i do have heat mat/germination mat. woul you know if its untrue or unwise i read but cant re find a post on another forum where someone said you can root japanese maples from winter cuttings indoors with heat mats tough seems odd .

 

[andrewiles]

This one comes with a dome: https://www.amazon.com/Aeroponic-Machine-HortiPots-Germination-Neoprene/dp/B07KSYWF2M

Yeah, I think the dome is important. High humidity helps considerably with maples. Btw, you should also use a cloning solution, such as https://www.amazon.com/HydroDynamics-Clonex-Clone-Solution-Quart/dp/B0792RSMTZ. I've also recently tried https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FEOL380?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 as well, to keep bad things from growing, but I don't know yet how effective it is. With these kits hygiene is pretty important, so periodically replace the water and clean with bleach, etc. as recommended. It does seem to matter.

Heating mats do help with root growth.

You should definitely experiment, as long as you're ok with the frustration of things not working. Trying to root things out of season is likely to end in failure, but who knows. My limited knowledge on this subject is from doing all the things you're thinking about now. My recommendation is to try things that are known to work well first, then branch out to harder things. That way it's not too discouraging. So if you want to do something now, start with hardwood cuttings of species known to work well, like dawn redwoods or birches. Keep these outside in a good starting mix, or whatever recommendations you find, and let them wake naturally. Then this spring work with softwood cuttings of maples, etc. FWIW, I've tried hardwood cuttings of maples and the success rate is much lower than softwood. Others may have better approaches, but I suspect on your first go at it you'll see mostly death.

Are you looking to propagate a particular acer cultivar, or particular class or palmatums?

 

[tigerscott79]

This one comes with a dome: https://www.amazon.com/Aeroponic-Machine-HortiPots-Germination-Neoprene/dp/B07KSYWF2M

Yeah, I think the dome is important. High humidity helps considerably with maples. Btw, you should also use a cloning solution, such as https://www.amazon.com/HydroDynamics-Clonex-Clone-Solution-Quart/dp/B0792RSMTZ. I've also recently tried https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FEOL380?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 as well, to keep bad things from growing, but I don't know yet how effective it is. With these kits hygiene is pretty important, so periodically replace the water and clean with bleach, etc. as recommended. It does seem to matter.

Heating mats do help with root growth.

You should definitely experiment, as long as you're ok with the frustration of things not working. Trying to root things out of season is likely to end in failure, but who knows. My limited knowledge on this subject is from doing all the things you're thinking about now. My recommendation is to try things that are known to work well first, then branch out to harder things. That way it's not too discouraging. So if you want to do something now, start with hardwood cuttings of species known to work well, like dawn redwoods or birches. Keep these outside in a good starting mix, or whatever recommendations you find, and let them wake naturally. Then this spring work with softwood cuttings of maples, etc. FWIW, I've tried hardwood cuttings of maples and the success rate is much lower than softwood. Others may have better approaches, but I suspect on your first go at it you'll see mostly death.

Are you looking to propagate a particular acer cultivar, or particular class or palmatums?

Acer japonicum, Acer palmatum, and Acer shirasawanum mainly . only ones i have atm though are acer "shishigashira" 5 ft tree in my yard , "ryuzen" (only 1 ft tall though ), acer sieboldianum "kumoi nishuki"small and acer shirasawanum "jordan" small so hoped to be able replicate some as smaller stock to bonsai . i did try one those rooting cube balls on my shishigashira and it worked but sadly i didnt know to reduce leaves and it died in fall . it had incredible roots 2 yrs ago but last summer (past) i tried it and i idnt know about how to remove enough bark and it failed so trying find bit easier way then air layering though tbh i wish someone ws closer to my addy to help me learn in person . videos are great but nothing compared to seeing it in person and learning (least for me with how i learn ). but given my epilepsey and seizures i cant drive so limits me alot. plus if i can find some cultivars i can clone would be awesome if they were affordable enough if got clone machine too

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[tigerscott79]

This one comes with a dome: https://www.amazon.com/Aeroponic-Machine-HortiPots-Germination-Neoprene/dp/B07KSYWF2M

Yeah, I think the dome is important. High humidity helps considerably with maples. Btw, you should also use a cloning solution, such as https://www.amazon.com/HydroDynamics-Clonex-Clone-Solution-Quart/dp/B0792RSMTZ. I've also recently tried https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FEOL380?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 as well, to keep bad things from growing, but I don't know yet how effective it is. With these kits hygiene is pretty important, so periodically replace the water and clean with bleach, etc. as recommended. It does seem to matter.

Heating mats do help with root growth.

You should definitely experiment, as long as you're ok with the frustration of things not working. Trying to root things out of season is likely to end in failure, but who knows. My limited knowledge on this subject is from doing all the things you're thinking about now. My recommendation is to try things that are known to work well first, then branch out to harder things. That way it's not too discouraging. So if you want to do something now, start with hardwood cuttings of species known to work well, like dawn redwoods or birches. Keep these outside in a good starting mix, or whatever recommendations you find, and let them wake naturally. Then this spring work with softwood cuttings of maples, etc. FWIW, I've tried hardwood cuttings of maples and the success rate is much lower than softwood. Others may have better approaches, but I suspect on your first go at it you'll see mostly death.

Are you looking to propagate a particular acer cultivar, or particular class or palmatums?

plus maybe idk but maybe people may want to trade cuttings and try to root or trade plants once rooted idk if allowed but always a thought maybe.

 

[andrewiles]

Air layering is a bit of an art sometimes, but it's really satisfying when it works. Keep at it.

I haven't tried any of those maples, so can't help you there. But if you're interested I can send a few first-year rooted cultivar cuttings your way. Maybe a dawn redwood and an acer or two. I don't have what you're looking for, but they'll still be fun. If so, just send me a PM with your address.