propagating wollemis from cuttings

ajdunleavy

hi all...
as an irishman realtively new to australia it wasn't long before i came across this most publicised of trees.... i don't really think much of there bonsai potential but would love to get a bit more out of the one i bought the other day at domain botanical gardens
has anyone sucessfully propagated one from a cutting and what methods would you recommend?

Advertisement

Gisbourne

The tree you bought was propagated from a cutting. "As seeds from the wild population are difficult and dangerous to collect, and collection poses the threat of damage to the trees, propagation is being carried out vegetatively from young plants grown from the original seeds and cuttings from the Wollemi Pines in the wild."

The official website has articles, photos, wallpapers, and care info: http://www.wollemipine.com/index.php

ajdunleavy

i've seen the website.. can i not take a cutting from this plant so

kcpoole

Hi Aj
Apparently they are easy to grow from cutting but we just havent figured out how. As they are so new to cultivation there is little experience as yet.
All of the commecial ones propagate from the original trees, have been done so in petri dishes in Agar. They were done in large scale in commercial controlled environments so probably not repeatable by us amatures at home.

I have tried to strike them from just the leaves with no sucess and some others I know have also tried with the cut "leaf" stem.

I suspect our best chance will be to take a section of cutting from the branch itself.
Ken

__________________
When engineers work out how to make something Idiot proof, humanity invents a better Idiot

Alasdair

Haven't had any luck with mine either. I think the best approach would be cuttings of woodly material, strip away the base leaves and put in a light, free draining soil. I get the feeling that a bit of drought stress might force roots quicker than keeping them well watered.

I didn't know the original were done in Agar, Might see if i can get some through my university and give it a shot that way.

Al
(haven't posted on here in ages and it feels gooood!)

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

ajdunleavy

i think i might be able to get some agar myself... also i've heard that bovril/marmite with gelatine is a good substitute... i've never tried to grow anything with agar though... how do you go about it?
is rooting hormone required?

kcpoole

I have no idea either. I assumed Agar has all the "right stuff" in it already

I only know/assume this as I have seen pictures of the trees being cultivated and they show tiny sections of material in petri dishes, and by what I have heard from National parks sources.

Let us know how you go.

Ken

__________________
When engineers work out how to make something Idiot proof, humanity invents a better Idiot

ajdunleavy

will do.....what time is best to take cuttings