Juniper Trunk Chop Cutting Success!

[Vance Wood]

Sorry. I should have said "based on my observation the round bumps on juniper branches seem to be latent roots."

I started a test cutting. Took lots of pics and planted it. IF it survives, we will see in March (or there abouts) if the bumps are indeed latent roots. I am thinking it will take longer since it is already fall. If it fails, I will start another in spring.

Years ago I asked an experienced nurseryman when I first started in bonsai what those bumps were on Juniper trunks and branches, he told me they were pitch pockets. In my years of working with Junipers I have never encountered those bumps providing a starting point for anything remotely associated with root formation. However this I do not know for sure and never tire of questioning others who seem to have information I do not.

 

[edprocoat]

I get those bumps on juni's around areas where I have did heavy bends to the point of cracking. It seems on my plants that's how they heal, I always thought they were formed by the sap flowing up through the cracked areas and hardening.

ed

 

[Paradox]

I have those bumps on my junis. They don't seem assocated with cracking on my trees and they occur on straight as well as curved areas. I thought they might be latent buds but I don't recall well enough whether I aactually got new growth from them specifically right now.

Rob, thanks for posting this. Its good to know that this can work for larger junis. I've got a san jose with @1 inch trunk and a bit of a reverse taper Id love to air layer.

 

[october]

I have those bumps on my junis. They don't seem assocated with cracking on my trees and they occur on straight as well as curved areas. I thought they might be latent buds but I don't recall well enough whether I aactually got new growth from them specifically right now.

Rob, thanks for posting this. Its good to know that this can work for larger junis. I've got a san jose with @1 inch trunk and a bit of a reverse taper Id love to air layer.

Depending on how much potential you think the tree has and how experimental you want to be. Maybe try it as a cutting instead of an air layer.

Rob

 

[Paradox]

Depending on how much potential you think the tree has and how experimental you want to be. Maybe try it as a cutting instead of an air layer.

Rob

I was thinking of trying the wire around the trunk til it bites trick next spring.

 

[october]

I am not sure. I have never tried that technique. The purpose of my trunk chop cutting was to maybe start down a road where shohins can be created with maybe a little less effort and time. Also, to try to break the accepted thought of taking cuttings around the thickness of a pencil. Imagine if you are able to root a 3 inch thick juniper cutting that is only 4-5 inches tall.

The old method of taking a pencil size juniper cutting, planting it in a colander and waiting 5-7 years to get a nice shohin is tried and true. However, it is only viable is someone wants to work with a small cutting for 5-7 years plus.

Rob

 

[Paradox]

Imagine if you are able to root a 3 inch thick juniper cutting that is only 4-5 inches tall.

This would be awesome indeed. Just hate to kill the tree just chopping it. Would like to see this done more with a high success rate before I take the plunge.

 

[sikadelic]

As a new guy with relatively little experience, this is promising! I have always heard they can be a real pain in the ass to root cuttings from a Juniper. I have a nursery tree that is quite large with several barren branches close to the trunk. I will try rooting a bunch of the branches this spring and see what kind of luck I have. I need to cut those branches off anyway so what the heck.

Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[Paradox]

Rob, I'm curious as to why you did the cutting September 1st. It would seem to me to be a bit late in the season? Obviously it worked but I wonder if May/June would be better if I was to try this?

 

[october]

Rob, I'm curious as to why you did the cutting September 1st. It would seem to me to be a bit late in the season? Obviously it worked but I wonder if May/June would be better if I was to try this?

When I first bought the tree, the main thing was making a nice shohin from the parent tree. The cutting would be a side project. I wanted to get the parent tree off to a good start. Which meant opening up the tree to light. By doing the chop now, I opened up the tree so all the areas left will start getting stronger. Also, this is one less insult I will have to do next season. Next season, it will pretty much be just wiring and repotting only.

If the cutting was the main project, I probably would have waited until Spring.

Rob