Question
QUESTION: I have a 10yr old plant that we planted into the garden 2yr ago. We have tried to propagate it using semi hardwood cuttings with no success. At the base of the plant there are 4 trucks coming out of the ground, can we divide this by cutting down and repotting the piece with some of the root system?

ANSWER: Carmel,

My answer is maybe. What you may find if you dig down a bit is that all 4 trunks join a bit below the surface of the soil and that they do not have separate root systems.  Before you cut it separate from the mother plant make sure it has a good root system to survive. I do suggest that you look for Dyna Gro K-L-N Rooting Concentrate. This is a liguid rooting hormone that will help root things that you can't otherwise root including cuttings from trees. It is wonderful stuff and you may have to order it from the internet. I purchased it from the internet some time ago. It was reccommended by a bonsai artist and I love it as I also raise bonsai trees. It will help you root cutting from your Radermachera sinica and make sure that the piece survives if you cut it off and it doesn't have quite enough roots immediately.  Good luck with your project.

Darlene



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Darlene,

Thank you so much for your reply. We are very impressed with your promptness and the amount of information that you have supplied us.  We have asked many people and no one has had any idea!! Our follow up question is should we cut it with a saw or is there another method that you would recommend?  Also, with the mother plant, is there any need to treat the wound to stop infection?  Is there any risk that the mother plant will die as a result of us trying this?

Thanks, Carmel

ANSWER: Carmel,

If the mother plant is healthy and and soil around it is healthy you should not have a problem. I would not water the mother tree excessively following the removal of the limb. If you expect a lot of rain I might consider using a cut paste but if it is a dry season and a dry area I would not wory about it. I have seen cut paste seal in bacteria that caused rot so I prefer not to use it if I can reasonably keep the area dry for long enough for it to naturally heal.   

If it is not very large I would use my bonsai concave cutters. But if you are not in bonsai and don't have friends that are then a saw will be just fine. I would try to get the KLN before I cut because it would guarantee that it would adequately root if it dosn't already have enough roots. Good luck.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Darlene,

Thank you again for your advice.  I didn't mention that the tree is about 3 metres tall. Is that OK?  I have also googled the Dyna Gro product and can't find it.  We are in Australia so maybe I'm just not looking in the right direction!!

Thanks,

Carmel.

Answer
Carmel,

You can buy the KLN at this site: http://www.planetnatural.com/site/rooting-concentrate.html
It is $9.95 for a pint bottle but you dilute it a lot so it will last a long time unless you root a lot of cuttins this year.

You have to google KLN, not Dyna Gro. Dyna Gro is the manufacturer. Get the KLN before you start the project and you will not be risking as much.

Since it is that large you want to carfully dig down first and see if each of the 4 arms of the tree has it's own roots. Or if they join below the surface and there is only 1 set of root. If each arm has some roots you can more safely cut 1 off and pot it up. Then apply the KLN so it will quickly grow more roots and survive.

If they do not have separate roots then I would not cut off that large of a piece of the tree in hopes of rooting it. I would go back to what you have done in the past and try taking smaller cuttings up to a third of a meter but then usw the KLN rooting solution to water them and you are very likely to get them to root. Right now is the best time for you to be rooting them in your hemisphere.

You may be able to get the KLN at a Bonsai shop in Australia if you are near any Bonsai shops. It is commonly sold for that purpose. That would save costly shipping. Good luck.

Darlene