Blue Atlas Cedar next steps.

[WNC Bonsai]

One specific question I have had is are the BAC that are on their own roots and not grafted, propagated from cuttings, air layers, or from seed? Interestingly Sheffields lists both the blue and green varieties among their seeds (although right now they are out of stock) but Schumacher only lists the green variety. Given this I assume that the blue variety is a naturally occurring variety that does breed true, but I can’t find anything on the internet to confirm this one way or another.

 

[TomP]

It is my understanding that the blue does not necessarily come true from seeds (must be a recessive gene) and most of the BACs on their own roots are from cuttings, which from my experience is a low probability endeavor (but I think still worth it)

 

[WNC Bonsai]

It is my understanding that the blue does not necessarily come true from seeds (must be a recessive gene) and most of the BACs on their own roots are from cuttings, which from my experience is a low probability endeavor (but I think still worth it)

I finally found a note that says you pick from a population of seedlings and you may get a few of the blue variety. So you appear to be correct that it is either a rare or recessive trait that pops up among a small fraction of progeny. That would explain why so many BAC are produced as grafts onto more easily produced varieties. All you need are a few large donor trees for the scion and a bunch of green or deodar rootstock.

 

[Gabler]

It is my understanding that the blue does not necessarily come true from seeds (must be a recessive gene) and most of the BACs on their own roots are from cuttings, which from my experience is a low probability endeavor (but I think still worth it)

I didn't know you could root cuttings (or even air layers) from true cedar trees. What's your secret?

 

[TomP]

I didn't know you could root cuttings (or even air layers) from true cedar trees. What's your secret?

Not sure I have a secret. I have tried a lot of them and finally got one. I took it in early july, treated with clonex and misted regularly. I am going to keep trying and see if I can improve my success rate

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Not sure I have a secret. I have tried a lot of them and finally got one. I took it in early july, treated with clonex and misted regularly. I am going to keep trying and see if I can improve my success rate

One option would be to try a more concentrated hormone. Hormex reccomemds 0.8% for cedrus cuttings. They make it in concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 0.8, and 1.6%. Most off the shelf stuff is 0.3%.

 

[TomP]

One option would be to try a more concentrated hormone. Hormex reccomemds 0.8% for cedrus cuttings. They make it in concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 0.8, and 1.6%. Most off the shelf stuff is 0.3%.

Thank's for the tip--I will see how the current batch does in the propagator and if it doesn't work I will up the concerntraton