Cjr Liquidambar 2

[Cajunrider]

Collected a good size one. 2.75” at the 12” chop and 4.5” at the base. Tree was chopped for one week before being collected.

Root chop was very aggressive. I was pleasantly surprised to see buds already formed after only 5 days. Hopefully the roots quickly follow the top.

 

[Cajunrider]

No leaf yet but this thing is showing multiple bumps all over.

 

[Srt8madness]

I took a pic yesterday thinking of your work with these.

Lots of little sweetgum groves have popped up somewhat close to where a tree was removed. Years ago. Hacked one up knowing they were growing off a root, but was surprised how cool it looked.

Color me impressed if you get that huge stump to live!!

 

[Cajunrider]

 

[Cajunrider]

 

[Cajunrider]

 

[Cajunrider]

 

[Cajunrider]

This one is regressing. Liquidambars collection with hard chops both on top and bottom often fail to survive.

 

[ajm55555]

Here I find confirmation of what happened to me. They bud out because of the stored energy but then fail to regrow lost roots in time to survive.

 

[Cmd5235]

Interesting. I didn't lose any liquidambars when I did the same thing a few years ago.

 

[ajm55555]

Interesting. I didn't lose any liquidambars when I did the same thing a few years ago.

Did you do a hard pruning top and bottom in Spring?

 

[Cmd5235]

Yeah, I collected them in late March. Pretty much had no roots and just trunks.

 

[ajm55555]

That's encouraging but doesn't change what happened to me and @Cajunrider. I'll go one step at a time on mine in Spring this time. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Cmd5235]

Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out what happened. What were the temps/ what soil did you have them in?

 

[ajm55555]

Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out what happened. What were the temps/ what soil did you have them in?

I only have these pictures from March and April. It was in bonsai soil, protected from the midday sun. No late cold spell. Everything was fine by then, no sign of trouble. Just slow growth and that was the first sign.
When it died the roots didn't show any sign of new growth.

 

[Cmd5235]

Hmmm. It may have something to do with the dormancy and time of year where you are. I collect mine in March, before any buds start to swell, with night temps at or below freezing. I put them into a shrub mix from Lowes- so not true bonsai soil, much more organic material. I'm wondering if yours were collected too late.

 

[ajm55555]

Hmmm. It may have something to do with the dormancy and time of year where you are. I collect mine in March, before any buds start to swell, with night temps at or below freezing. I put them into a shrub mix from Lowes- so not true bonsai soil, much more organic material. I'm wondering if yours were collected too late.

Mine was from a garden center and it went from garden soil to bonsai soil. I did the pruning and repotting when the buds were closed.

 

[Maiden69]

The only one I have is an orientalis from Brent. I moved it from nursery soil to bonsai Jack organic mix when I received it. Last spring I repotted into an inorganic mix, but I waited till the buds started opening. Ryan suggests that for some species to ensure that the resources are already well on their way before cutting off roots. I know not the same as collecting, but worth considering. I have a few live oaks that I plan on collecting behind my property, but I plan on chopping them while in the ground, and collecting next spring. That way the tree can push a nice flush close to the base so I don't have a stick on a pot hoping for it to push buds.

Also, I took a few cuttings of the liquidambar, they all pushed leaves profusely, then died... I think they save a lot of energy in their trunk, but rely on the roots to survive. When I checked, it barely callous and there was no root at all.

 

[ajm55555]

ensure that the resources are already well on their way before cutting off roots

I think this is extremely true.