Bald Cypress Repot Root Rot Help!

[19Mateo83]

There's a recent Wigerts video I saw on this forum talking about BCs. This guy from Wigarts has to have handled more BCs than anybody and for a longer period of time and he was recomending watering them "when necessary" and not just every day. That raised some eyebrows for me cuz I soak mine too. It's an interesting video, I can't remember the title, Im sure it would be easy to find online, There's a few BC videos from Wigerts but I think this is a more recent one.

I know it’s sacrilege, but I don’t soak mine either. If the tree is sucking up tons of water, that’s one thing. But I believe the idea of soaking a BC to cause fluting isn’t science.

It isn’t sacrilege. I only soak some of my BCs. I have seen fluting mostly on BCs in swamp. The thousands of BCs I see on side walks, parks, and dry land in general has far less fluting. I have yet to see an entirely container grown BC with significant fluting, soaked or not.

I think the the water when needed approach is probably better when you are in refinement and you want the tree to slow down. In the grow out and taper building phases the dunking helps the tree grow very quickly and pack on the wood so to speak.

 

[Cajunrider]

I think the the water when needed approach is probably better when you are in refinement and you want the tree to slow down. In the grow out and taper building phases the dunking helps the tree grow very quickly and pack on the wood so to speak.

Agree. Who wants to apply wire and having to remove in as few as 6 weeks.

 

[19Mateo83]

Agree. Who wants to apply wire and having to remove in as few as 6 weeks.

must be someone a little off in the head…..

 

[LeftHandLuke]

I only soak some of my BCs.

Would be cool to see if anyone has done A-B testing. I may try that in my next lifetime.

 

[rockm]

If the tree wasn't under mulch, My guess given your location, is the tree dried out a bit during the winter and it froze with dry roots. BC roots can freeze with no real issue, happens all them time with mine over the winter. However, with no water in the soil, roots freeze more quickly and thoroughly.

 

[Maiden69]

There's a recent Wigerts video I saw on this forum talking about BCs. This guy from Wigarts has to have handled more BCs than anybody and for a longer period of time and he was recomending watering them "when necessary" and not just every day. That raised some eyebrows for me cuz I soak mine too. It's an interesting video, I can't remember the title, Im sure it would be easy to find online, There's a few BC videos from Wigerts but I think this is a more recent one.

There is a big difference between the BCs that Wigerts handle and what we, mere peasants have. The trees they collect are already developed, and the trees they are developing are planted in a swampy area in their garden where all the run off water from the nursery goes down to. There is a video of them pulling a few of those trees out.

Once the tree goes from development into refinement you really shouldn't flood it. Flooding the tree cause strong growth, same as if you water pines too much, you get extra long needles when you want to keep them small.

I know it’s sacrilege, but I don’t soak mine either. If the tree is sucking up tons of water, that’s one thing. But I believe the idea of soaking a BC to cause fluting isn’t science.

If you don't water them excessively you will not get the fluting/buttress you could if you do. The below statement is 100% accurate. My 4 year nursery bought BC has better buttress than the 20+ years BCs planted in the apartment complex I am staying at.

It isn’t sacrilege. I only soak some of my BCs. I have seen fluting mostly on BCs in swamp. The thousands of BCs I see on side walks, parks, and dry land in general has far less fluting.

I have yet to see an entirely container grown BC with significant fluting, soaked or not.

Hold on one more year... I got a few experiments coming along. I just have to find a way to transplant them right now without killing them as schedule got a little hectic and they are all in leaf. But, at least I know it is easy to replicate so next season I am starting another batch.

 

[LeftHandLuke]

the tree dried out a bit during the winter and it froze with dry roots.

I think you're right on the money. I was actually incredibly lucky that the freezing was very limited. Another point (in retrospect, and as I'm sure others have observed) is that it did not have root rot. It had dead root tips due to freezing.

 

[LeftHandLuke]

Update on this... I was indeed lucky (it didn't die) but not incredibly lucky (it took a hell of a beating). It struggled for a couple weeks after repotting and I ended up cutting the top out of it which seemed to help it send out new shoots. I think it will get by -- although with a new design, a different type of taper and an extra couple of years to get back in the running.

 

[rockm]

Update on this... I was indeed lucky (it didn't die) but not incredibly lucky (it took a hell of a beating). It struggled for a couple weeks after repotting and I ended up cutting the top out of it which seemed to help it send out new shoots. I think it will get by -- although with a new design, a different type of taper and an extra couple of years to get back in the running.

Looks like the top suffered freeze damage as well. Everything Above the new shoots is likely dead-was there any green cambium when you cut the top?

 

[LeftHandLuke]

was there any green cambium when you cut the top?

Started out green and buds were swelling before the repot but then buds died back and cambium faded to mostly nothing. It "seemed" like it was mostly due to root issues, and that the top made it through okay. Would freeze-damaged buds start to swell like that? Or maybe there was essentially damage somewhere in the top, and it manifests in different ways and in different places?

 

[Cajunrider]

Started out green and buds were swelling before the repot but then buds died back and cambium faded to mostly nothing. It "seemed" like it was mostly due to root issues, and that the top made it through okay. Would freeze-damaged buds start to swell like that? Or maybe there was essentially damage somewhere in the top, and it manifests in different ways and in different places?

Damaged was to the roots. The trunk had enough energy and healthy enough to bud. When the buds demanded water and the roots can’t supply enough, the top area, which required the highest supply pressure, died.

 

[LeftHandLuke]

Damaged was to the roots. The trunk had enough energy and healthy enough to bud. When the buds demanded water and the roots can’t supply enough, the top area, which required the highest supply pressure, died.

Yep. Exactly what I was thinking.