Elm Root Cuttings

[Eric Group]

Some pics of the root cuttings I started last month... The indistinguishable green baby cabbages have started to form into branches on the largest one. A few of the smallest ones seem to have failed, but they had the least amount of roots attached as well I think, so not super surprising and not a heart breaking loss.. . they may still sprout later on. I am pretty excited about the largest one. I think a little branch selection next Spring, and some fast growth could lead to a good tree in a couple years!

 

[Frog]

How late in the season is too late to do a root cutting? Or did I miss it, if it was already posted?

Frog

 

[Smoke]

Root cuttings are taken during repotting season. Some may still be repotting in colder climates, but mine were done back in Jan.

 

[milehigh_7]

Al, is it fair to say that when doing this we need to think in terms of when the roots have the most sugars stored and ready to move? So just prior to buds swelling right?

 

[Anthony]

Rob,

on our side they will root all year long.
However normally we do the root cuttings when we repot. Jan 2nd.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[erb.75]

noticed my first leaves on my root cuttings from my cork barks and yatsubusa will post pictures soon

 

[Eric Group]

Rob,

on our side they will root all year long.
However normally we do the root cuttings when we repot. Jan 2nd.
Good Day
Anthony

Goodness! Down to the DAY! Is Jan 2nd national repot your elm day? I tend to say something a little more generic... Like "Spring". Jan 2 takes way too much commitment and planning! LOL

 

[Anthony]

Ha ha, Eric,

yes, down to the day for years now. 35 years and 25 years with the use of refrigerators for celtis and ginkgo.
Stored aged compost for one year.
Keeps the world on even keel. Ha ha.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Smoke]

A year later and the cuttings have grown well. It is time to repot them and seperate them into individual containers for grow out.



The cuttings were chosen to be neagari style cascade and semi cascade type trees. Roots were left intentionally long when the cuttings were taken in prep for this.

 

[Smoke]

Some of the roots had to be gathered together and wired to make a tubuler root system to get the feel of the stilts holding up the tree.



Each tree was pruned back to an apex leader and a cascading leader. Branches will be started this year while the bases are solidifying. All the feeder roots were removed from the thicker roots on the upper part of the roots system. They were planted into cut down water bottles and clay pots.


With any luck they may look like this a in a few years.



Two of the cutting were taken for broom style trees also.

 

[Tieball]

Ha ha Al,

you finally know the truth and the secret. ALL of our elms are from root cuttings, and wait until you try barrel growing, see how big [and fast ] the trunks get.
Have fun.
Good Day
Anthony

Barrel growing?

 

[onlyrey]

Can you inverse a root, when doing a root cutting, so you start an elm bonsai with a taper right away?

 

[aml1014]

Can you inverse a root, when doing a root cutting, so you start an elm bonsai with a taper right away?

No the budds come from the cut end of the root not from the root itself.

Aaron

 

[davetree]

No the budds come from the cut end of the root not from the root itself.

Aaron

I have planted elm root cuttings "upside down" and they grew just fine.

 

[aml1014]

I have planted elm root cuttings "upside down" and they grew just fine.

I must be mistaken as to how they grow then, have any pics? Thanks in advance if its true I'll happily try that this year.

Aaron

 

[Smoke]

I must be mistaken as to how they grow then, have any pics? Thanks in advance if its true I'll happily try that this year.

Aaron

There is seven pages here with pictures of the whole process. I would suggest taking about 15 minutes and read the whole thing?

I'll never make a whole year at this rate.....

 

[aml1014]

There is seven pages here with pictures of the whole process. I would suggest taking about 15 minutes and read the whole thing?

I'll never make a whole year at this rate.....

I did read it, and just for you I read it a second time, post number 5 was from you and you said "Soon the root tissue that is exposed will begin the change over to above ground tissue and side branches will emerge from the trunks" which I've never seen happen but was like what the heck maybe I'm wrong. Throughout the entire thread I see NO branches emerge from the former root tissue that was exposed unless I missed something, could you point me to exactly what picture shows new branches emerge from anywhere but the exposed cambium where the cuts where originally made?
No disrespect towards you Al, you have much more experience then I do, and enjoy your blog, I just have never had this happen with my elm root cuttings and nobody I know has either. I always like to learn something new so if you can show me exactly where I'll be happy to know something new.

Aaron

 

[Smoke]

I did read it, and just for you I read it a second time, post number 5 was from you and you said "Soon the root tissue that is exposed will begin the change over to above ground tissue and side branches will emerge from the trunks" which I've never seen happen but was like what the heck maybe I'm wrong. Throughout the entire thread I see NO branches emerge from the former root tissue that was exposed unless I missed something, could you point me to exactly what picture shows new branches emerge from anywhere but the exposed cambium where the cuts where originally made?
No disrespect towards you Al, you have much more experience then I do, and enjoy your blog, I just have never had this happen with my elm root cuttings and nobody I know has either. I always like to learn something new so if you can show me exactly where I'll be happy to know something new.

Aaron

You won't see it in the first year, takes like 4 to 5 before you see that. I'll take photo's of the ones I did in 2008 that are on the first page. You can see the top of the root cutting and branches along the sides. Post 130 above shows a set of branches coming well below the cut end of the root. Take a small piece of brass tube from a hobby store and twist the tube in the root where you want a branch. Remove the piece of cambium confetti and a branch will grow there. In the growing season.

 

[aml1014]

You won't see it in the first year, takes like 4 to 5 before you see that. I'll take photo's of the ones I did in 2008 that are on the first page. You can see the top of the root cutting and branches along the sides. Post 130 above shows a set of branches coming well below the cut end of the root. Take a small piece of brass tube from a hobby store and twist the tube in the root where you want a branch. Remove the piece of cambium confetti and a branch will grow there. In the growing season.

I did know you could get branches by exposing the cambium but didn't know it would bud out in time, I don't have any root cuttings older then 2 and a half, but I'm glad I learned that.

Aaron

 

[Eric Group]

Thanks for updating this one Smoke! Your climate is different from mines, so you are generally a little ahead, which when Working on a similar project means your updates seem to come a month or two prior to me doing this work myself!

I am excited to see how yours grow and what you make of them... If you are Ok with me continuing to piggy back in your thread, I may post some updates on mine around February...