Cloning Trees?

Hello,

Does anyone here have experience with cloning trees and shrubs? Im looking to clone a vigorous tree coming up in my front yard since id like to place a few more on the property. Is it possible? If so, is it the same as the cloning process for marijuana?

Im also going to take a cutting, if everything is how I think it is, and work to try and bonsai it. Always been interested in that kind of thing figure its a good time to venture into that!

I think most trees are duplicated through grafting which is a much different process than traditional cloning. Ive never done it so i dont have any advice but im going to give it a go this year.

Jimmyjonestoo said:

I think most trees are duplicated through grafting which is a much different process than traditional cloning. Ive never done it so i dont have any advice but im going to give it a go this year.

Click to expand...

Correct, grafting is the process- though it's not too different from simply taking cuttings.

@Rentaldog YouTube 'grafting techniques' and you'll see a wealth of information on the finer points of cutting a notch in an existing stem, cutting the tip of your intended graft into the correct shape (cut on an angle, then roll the branch 180 degrees and do it again to get a duck bill shape) and then mating the two parts together.

Google 'cocktail tree' for ideas and examples.

It's good to know what it is you're cloning and the best time to take cuttings. Most species can be propigated through new wood cuttings when the shoots are slightly hardened off and in moist sand with rooting powder. Sometimes the powder isn't even necessary. I start by googling propigation and whatever species you're cloning, example "propigation of Crape Myrtle". Take many more cuttings than you'll need bc there is usually a high attrition rate.
I bet if you used youtube for tutorials of propigating new wood cuttings you could learn how to do it. Hope that helps.

I'd go with air-layering propagation for a higher rate of success if you're starting with material that is more woody than herbaceous.

Rentaldog said:

Hello,

Does anyone here have experience with cloning trees and shrubs? Im looking to clone a vigorous tree coming up in my front yard since id like to place a few more on the property. Is it possible? If so, is it the same as the cloning process for marijuana?

Im also going to take a cutting, if everything is how I think it is, and work to try and bonsai it. Always been interested in that kind of thing figure its a good time to venture into that!

Click to expand...

What kind of tree, most volunteer weed trees aren't desirable.

Air layering was a good suggestion abe

If you take new growth it's not that hard. I just cloned a willow tree in a glass of water without anything special. Mind you Willow trees are high in rooting hormones. But still, newer growth. Shouldn't be too hard - not much different from Cannabis. Might take longer. Although the Willow tree had roots in less than a week they are probably more an exception than the rule.

I've heard of ppl somehow using the chemicals in willow as the actual rooting hormone to root other things. Has anyone ever tried this, it sounds like a cool project? I have two kickass willows on property, one is an arctic blue, sphere shaped, the other is the tri-colored variety.

abe supercro said:

I've heard of ppl somehow using the chemicals in willow as the actual rooting hormone to root other things. Has anyone ever tried this, it sounds like a cool project? I have two kickass willows on property, one is an arctic blue, sphere shaped, the other is the tri-colored variety.

Click to expand...

Kinda like using alfalfa tea because it has more triacontanol than most plants? Cool!

And if it doesn't work, you can chew on the bark to relieve your headache... willow bark is a good source of aspirin.

maybe mix willow and alfalfa; bottle, label and market.

make a mint on the next new clonex. cha ching!

abe supercro said:

I've heard of ppl somehow using the chemicals in willow as the actual rooting hormone to root other things. Has anyone ever tried this, it sounds like a cool project? I have two kickass willows on property, one is an arctic blue, sphere shaped, the other is the tri-colored variety.

Click to expand...

This is why I bought the willow tree actually. Apparently you can boil off growth to create your own concentrated Rhizo formula. I'm not sure if it's newer growth. Maybe it's just letting it soak... there is a process that's around that I saw though that apparently works. I did the cutting in a glass to test my particular species to see how easily it would root - it was pretty damn easy so I figure it must be quite high in hormones. Next step is to make some concentrate.

I'm trying to get this stuff on the cheap. A bottle of Rhizo from canna is like a few hundred bucks for a really small amount.

Wow, thanks a lot for the replies everyone Unfortunately im not sure what type of trees these are, and one is more of a large bush/shrub (have a few, the biggest is about 9 feet tall) and I may also try with a few pecan trees.

Ill be doing some research on youtube as suggested, and once again thanks for the help! If im able, ill post back here with results

air layering will be your best bet.

strip back the bark at the point of the branch where you want roots to appear.



then wrap a bundle of soil/peat

around it, duct tape it up and keep it sealed to keep moisture in.



keep checking back for roots. might take a while.

Interesting, I would never have thought of something like that! Ill be giving a few different methods a shot, and this will for sure be one of them.

I cut a tree down this spring and left a log in the back of my truck. It rained and water polled up in the bed liner. A week later it had little nubs pop out all over it with leaves. The stump is growing branches profusely. This was a tree that just popped up. I don't know how to do it , but reasonably sure it can be done. Just might try it myself as a matter of fact. Probably try @UncleBuck method.

UncleBuck said:

air layering will be your best bet.

strip back the bark at the point of the branch where you want roots to appear.

then wrap a bundle of soil/peat

around it, duct tape it up and keep it sealed to keep moisture in.

keep checking back for roots. might take a while.

Click to expand...

Is cloning powder/gel necessary/helpful when air layering?

Jimmyjonestoo said:

Is cloning powder/gel necessary/helpful when air layering?

Click to expand...

they don't say it is, ut it would probably help. they say 8-10 weeks for roots just using peat.

GrowUrOwnDank said:

I cut a tree down this spring and left a log in the back of my truck. It rained and water polled up in the bed liner. A week later it had little nubs pop out all over it with leaves. The stump is growing branches profusely. This was a tree that just popped up. I don't know how to do it , but reasonably sure it can be done. Just might try it myself as a matter of fact. Probably try @UncleBuck method.

Click to expand...

I did the samething in my backyard. I had a pile of firewood sitting waiting for splitting, and it started growing new branches. So I cut them off the log when they were about 6 inches and stuck it in water til the roots grew.