Ugly Ducklings - Suggestions, advice please
- Thread starter ConorDash
- Start date
discusmike
Omono
Chop n grow in the ground does wonders
He has been beheaded..
Was rather conservative, will take Marky’s advice of doing it in phases. I think it’s the way to go in order for me to learn how the tree reacts. Will reassess in summer
. Left the one large branch with a load of green on.
I also thought I’d have some fun with some semi-ripe cuttings.
In some compost + inorganic clay granules. Removed 2-4 leaves from the bottom, rooting hormone, in. We shall see.
Was rather conservative, will take Marky’s advice of doing it in phases. I think it’s the way to go in order for me to learn how the tree reacts. Will reassess in summer
. Left the one large branch with a load of green on.I also thought I’d have some fun with some semi-ripe cuttings.
In some compost + inorganic clay granules. Removed 2-4 leaves from the bottom, rooting hormone, in. We shall see.
FYI, the reaction was good from the pyracantha having a chop back.
Second stage will be more chopped off, later in the season.
All the cuttings did nothing. Not sure why they didn’t work, I thought I did things right.
Second stage will be more chopped off, later in the season.
All the cuttings did nothing. Not sure why they didn’t work, I thought I did things right.
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
On the pyracantha, try putting hardwood cuttings in water until roots form. Worked for me every time.
Good idea, I’ll do that. I’ve seen and read about plants forming roots in just water but never known how or why thy do it, and other times thy don’t.
Pineapple for example, I got to form a lot of roots in just water.
To chop or not?
The lower node didn’t produce anything although still looks to be there. There is good growth in the mode slightly above.
I can chop to that then let it grow further down and chop again later...
Is it perhaps too late in the season to do this major chop? It has loads and loads of foliage which will be done apart from that 1 shoot.
The lower node didn’t produce anything although still looks to be there. There is good growth in the mode slightly above.
I can chop to that then let it grow further down and chop again later...
Is it perhaps too late in the season to do this major chop? It has loads and loads of foliage which will be done apart from that 1 shoot.
markyscott
Imperial Masterpiece
I'd probably cut back the top growth and see if I could strengthen that lower shoot and get some extension on it. I'd probably wait to chop until that was a bit stronger.
Very good Sir, sound advice. I’m just gonna do that today.
This is all just experimental and bad stock, so time is no factor, just learning and see how it goes.
Thanks!
Also my actions on this and reporting back can hopefully teach others how the species react in certain conditions.
Ryan H
Mame
@ConorDash
Hey so here is a thought on that first elm assuming you still have it.. I had a similar ugly duck with a very bold Y split like that. I decided to try my hand a semi cascade with it.
Why? Cause cascades are cool and I didn’t have one. Yeah taper is a problem yup bigggg old scar and bulge from the cut. Mmhmm it’s small and really a lot of work given the result. So what, you learn from every tree and this one still makes me happy.
Still have my first tree. It’s a old gnarly looking ginseng ficus I have resurrected countless times and no it’s not pretty hahaha
Here’s a couple pics. When in doubt grow it out and see what the tree gives you. If not I always got these seeds I threw in the ground for more things to eff with. Shout out to @AZbonsai for the seeds
Cheers,
Ry
Hey so here is a thought on that first elm assuming you still have it.. I had a similar ugly duck with a very bold Y split like that. I decided to try my hand a semi cascade with it.
Why? Cause cascades are cool and I didn’t have one. Yeah taper is a problem yup bigggg old scar and bulge from the cut. Mmhmm it’s small and really a lot of work given the result. So what, you learn from every tree and this one still makes me happy.
Still have my first tree. It’s a old gnarly looking ginseng ficus I have resurrected countless times and no it’s not pretty hahaha
Here’s a couple pics. When in doubt grow it out and see what the tree gives you. If not I always got these seeds I threw in the ground for more things to eff with. Shout out to @AZbonsai for the seeds
Cheers,
Ry
Attachments
@ConorDash
Hey so here is a thought on that first elm assuming you still have it.. I had a similar ugly duck with a very bold Y split like that. I decided to try my hand a semi cascade with it.
Why? Cause cascades are cool and I didn’t have one. Yeah taper is a problem yup bigggg old scar and bulge from the cut. Mmhmm it’s small and really a lot of work given the result. So what, you learn from every tree and this one still makes me happy.
Still have my first tree. It’s a old gnarly looking ginseng ficus I have resurrected countless times and no it’s not pretty hahaha
Here’s a couple pics. When in doubt grow it out and see what the tree gives you. If not I always got these seeds I threw in the ground for more things to eff with. Shout out to @AZbonsai for the seeds
Cheers,
Ry
Ah I see. Thanks, yeh that seems a good solution..
Here’s how these 2 ugly ducklings look now:
Number 1.
He was starting to look real bad so I slip Potted in to a sizeable plastic tub, with a load of chunky organic soil.. I think the soil is bad but it’s fresh so hopefully it’ll be ok. Will leave to grow for however look.. I can see from the main branches, the tint shoots go a dark brown and that’s an indication of something bad...
Number 2.
Again slip Potted in to the ground, covered up with bark. Still has most of its inorganic litter around rootball, roots untouched. I was watered manually for a while and now it’s mostly left. Sometimes I water it.
It’s looking better I think, I’ll just leave it to grow and grow..
These 2 halves of the elm are still going. The smaller, in the pot, I think really disliked its new soil, so it didnt do well at all but its bullet proof, so still going. Will deal with next year.
The one in the ground is going well, bigger and bigger everyday.
DSC_0081 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0082 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0083 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0085 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0084 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0086 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
The one in the ground is going well, bigger and bigger everyday.
DSC_0081 by Conor Dashwood, on FlickrDSC_0082 by Conor Dashwood, on FlickrDSC_0083 by Conor Dashwood, on FlickrDSC_0085 by Conor Dashwood, on FlickrDSC_0084 by Conor Dashwood, on FlickrDSC_0086 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
How thick of a Pyracantha hardwood cutting have you been able to root?
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
up to 1 inch diameter. I'm trying about 1.5 inch now.
Great news, thank you. I have access to some nice sized shrubs that I can take some cuttings from in the Spring.
I think my one was about 1.5”.
I’ve had an air layer on the base of my pyracantha for over a year now, not been bothered to remove yet. That base is easily 3-4”.
Paulpash
Masterpiece
Just seen this - pyracantha heal slowly. Any chops will be visible for a long time so bear in mind where you set your sacrifices (backside). Pyracantha generate roots really easily as I'm sure you've discovered.
Good to know, thanks. The trunk isn’t very thick on this, it’ll never be a larger tree, just aiming for small. So I’ll just have to get a good head of branches on it to cover up the scar. Not much else for it I don’t think!
