Extended season starting trees indoors

[cmeg1]

Got loads of seeds.Some are still in the post.
European Hornbeam,Field Maple,Japanese And Trident Maple,Zelkova.Also a few 1gallon Coreana Hornbeams to try cuttings.
I will get the Zelkova started about 6 months early.Will see with the rest as they need warm stratification.Some will be sewn indoors and others will be put into a seed bed in Autumn to sprout in Springtime.
I like to get an early start indoors and manipulate roots from layering young seedlings and then plant in grow bed at Springtime.
Learning techniques from Dirr’s handbook on propagation!
Also internet learning science of Hydroponics.Very interesting.
Soaked the seeds in Kelp overnight.The seeds were dry and developed a hard coat.I learned of gibberellins in kelp are responsible for some of the very first changes or metamorphosis in seed germination. And it helps with dry seed to soak overnight.
In Derr’s book he also mentions benefits of kelp for cuttings.I am making a foliar feed from kelp and Fulvic acid in a few days.Definately some plant science there!
2oz bag of kelp will last a long time as only 1/16 tsp per gallons.

 

[cmeg1]

Japanese And Trident Maple

Added some small leaf Trident and some USA Japanese Maple.
The Trident needed hot water treatment and then cold stratification and the Japanese only needs cold stratification and has been noted to start germinating after 60 days.
Used kelp for the water again.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Awesome! Good luck growing. I’m sure this thread will have lots of good info.

 

[cmeg1]

Awesome! Good luck growing. I’m sure this thread will have lots of good info.

Thanks! I will probably start mixing Spring water with my rain water to make it through the winter.
That way can grow more
When rain is predicted I can always hook up a barrel lol

 

[cmeg1]

Planted about 2000 Zelkova seed

We will see how this goes.Hopefully sprout evenly.Gave a 1 month cold moist stratification.USA origin seed.
Not sure what I will do with these yet.Thinking of layering and girdling techniques to make better roots.I want to experiment with small Rockwool cubes for seedling air layers.Which can probably be removed if I quarter them and anchor them through the process.
They sell 3/4” grow chunks that might be the perfect size to air layer a seedling since it will be relatively light weight.
Another option is to girdle the seedlings with or without a propogator and when they swell,proceed to cut off and put into the propogator.Would probably root in a week.
Could keep many stock seedlings in this tray long term.I put large grade perlite on bottom half of media and smaller grade on top half.

 

[MrWunderful]

I have had great success starting zelkova in November, with cold strat. My healthiest that I started last nov. is thicker than a quarter And I was able to chop it twice. Ill post a pic if I can figure it out (been having trouble lately).

Glad you posted this, im going to start some Jbp, linden and trident this year early as well and see how they do. I have about 40 strong growing zelkovas in my bed already.

Im not airlayering them for better nebari though, i find a tourniquet works just as well. Most are on tile after tourniquet, some next year will be ebihara style on plastic cutting board.

 

[MrWunderful]

Got it! Nice.

 

[cmeg1]

Most are on tile after tourniquet

Gotta love spreading them roots on a tile.I will be digging a few Zelkova that have 1” trunks just at 1 year in ground on saucers.Probably will prune back hard and replant for a leader.Though it was done outside.I believe a 7 month head start will be great with this crop indoors and planted out in Spring.

im going to start some Jbp

My first attempt at seedling cuttings seems to be working indoors,though I am wanting to refine my technique some more...experimenting with rooting media.
I got these rooted from sewing the seed to cutting in about a month! I impressed my self on that one Really happy with this.
Want to make hoards of these!

 

[MrWunderful]

Gotta love spreading them roots on a tile.I will be digging a few Zelkova that have 1” trunks just at 1 year in ground.Probably will prune back hard and replant for a leader.Though it was done outside.I believe a 7 month head start will be great with this crop indoors and planted out in Spring.


My first attempt at seedling cuttings seems to be working indoors,though I am wanting to refine my technique some more...experimenting with rooting media.
I got these rooted from seedling to cutting in about a month! Really happy with this.
Want to make hoards of these!
View attachment 264884View attachment 264885

Yeah your post and markyscott’s are what convinced me to do it. And I have a jbp from bonsai tonight that has amazing base and trunk, so ive seen it first hand!

 

[cmeg1]

. And I have a jbp from bonsai tonight

Awesome!
I used Jonas’ technique to make these.With Dip&Grow....5 minute dip

 

[cmeg1]

Dialing in the seedling cutting technique.

Still experimenting,but I was able to get roots in one month from sewn seed to seedling cutting!
Something to be said for 18-24 hrs of light and hydroponics!

Going to plant into 3” Rootpouch fabric pots for dense roots close to the trunk.They will stay in the pouches till Spring.

 

[cmeg1]

Another light

This has 816 samsung full spectrum diodes with the addition of 48 Osram deep reds....the hlg r-spec boards.
Considered a general purpose board with enhanced flowering.

Have two of these units now.One is 4000k veg only and this is 3500k rspec enhanced flower.

Also have a couple 3’ t5 that I can put on shelves over some propogation domes!

Got nice trays for the shelves on the way too.

 

[cmeg1]

The t5 propogation shelves

Over top the grow light

 

[cmeg1]

Give CO2 a go!

In my quest to learn Hydroponics I am experimenting with CO 2 enrichment...possibly bumping ppm to 1200.
See what cost is .I do personally know the gentlman at the compressed gas place in town and he said he give me a break on cost!
My Master Growers Course explaines of 20-50% growth increase!
Could be great for seedlings.And fun.
My moniter will be here in a couple days.

 

[PABonsai]

Neighbors are gonna be wondering what's all that foliage hanging out all the windows. Damn dude you need a garage!

 

[cmeg1]

Neighbors are gonna be wondering what's all that foliage hanging out all the windows

Yea,especially with the 4000k blue lights!
They open stomata on the leaves more than any color and increase effectivness of co2.
Will be interesting...

 

[cbroad]

@cmeg1
Damn good stuff! I'll be watching this thread.

Have you read up on germinating the field maple seeds? I've read they can have a double dormancy, but other sources say they'll sprout the first year...? I collected some last fall and tried germinating them this spring, but nothing really took... I had a couple sprout while in the fridge but when I put them in the soil, nothing...

I've had good success rooting cuttings in a DWC bucket with hydroton, but they were ficus... I built a big dwc chamber out of one of those 25 liter tubs from home depot but haven't got to use it yet. I've always wanted to try growing outdoor temperate stuff hydroponically.

Love Dirr, I consider his manual on woody landscape plants a Bible. Always wanted to read his propagation book!

 

[cmeg1]

Have you read up on germinating the field maple seeds?

Hi,Thanks!
Fwschumacher states their seed gets a month warm and then a few months cold.I just put mine in the fridge a couple days ago.I think they will be ready in December.
So will start early indoors.

There is great stuff in Dirr’s book!
I enjoy learning from Harley Smith too.His Master Growers Course.

 

[cmeg1]

Potted a couple Pine Seedling Cuttings
It has been 5 days since I ditched the Rockwool.Pleased everything is still going smoothly in the perlite.
The ones that were callous 5 days ago are just beginning to root,so I may just leave them alone a week or two.
I found two that were ready and gave a low charge of nutrients along with a tiny bit of monoammonium phosphate to give a root boost initially for first few weeks.FUN!!
Planted into Root Pouch to get a dense rootball going.
They will harden off a few days with lid tilted open in another dome and then hopefully in a week be under full intensity light

 

[cmeg1]

Free Elm Seeds Planted

Been watching these Chinese elm trees grow for years at work scattered everywhere from a very graceful old creek tree.
USDA states fresh seed will sprout in a few days,so I could not resist.I must admit,collection of free local seed is very satisfying.

Hooked up my CO2 yesterday...looked to be working flawlessly until I came home today as lights had not been on yet,I was expecting low ppm since the system turns off automatically at lights out
......trees don’t need CO2 during lights out....but anyway ppm was at 2500 Definately check regulator for leaks with soapy water when these are hooked up!
Everything is good now though.

Zelkova are sprouting all over and so are Japanese Black Pine,which I am excited to see if they actually grow faster than the first batch.Although It turns out my air conditioned mobile home already had 1000 ppm of CO2
before I even hooked up a CO2 tank!!!
Have not vented the house for awhile I guess.......maybe why I was able to sew seed and have a rooted seedling cutting in one month on the last batch!
At any rate I bumped it up further ,approaching near 1500 ppm.

Ready to make more Pine seedling cuttings.Should be sticking them in about 2 weeks.
..