Simple Method & Tips for Easy Japanese Maple Propagation

Here is a simple method, with some helpful tips, for striking hardwood cuttings from Japanese maple (Acer Palmatum) using a propagation box.
This easy to do method has been shown to work for other harder to root plants and trees, such as Hinoki cypress, lace-leaf Japanese maples, Korean maple, and halfmoon maples (Acer shirasawanum) in our hands.
Let us know what you think in the comments.
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[@marosbonsai]

Great results, guys. That's a lot of future material. I will try perlite next spring also. Greetings 👍

[@happymaplenursery]

Thanks, we appreciate that I've tried a straight perlite for maples (I think it was maybe semi-softwood cuttings) but found that a little organic matter (maybe 10-20% at the most) to hold water stopped them from drying too fast - best of luck!

[@jacobodonnell8912]

I've tried this with sand the last 2 years with 30 percent strike rate (in Australia) unfortunately 5 percent of the 30 percent did survived the winter, I'd be interested to see how your success rate is in a cooler climate, I found they could not develop enough to build the necessary stores for winter, I plan to only air layers going forward

[@happymaplenursery]

I seem to have lots of roots so I'm hoping they've built up enough carbohydrates to overwinter well and we'll put them in a protected area. In the past, we haven't had too many issue with Japanese maple cuttings that managed to strike making it through the winter.

[@DarthMasiah]

👍

[@Chuniekun]

How often do you water or mist these cuttings?

[@happymaplenursery]

The medium was watered well before sticking the cuttings in the box and only watered late into the year when I was removing the lid more often to harden them up mid to late summer I would actually open it every now and then and knock off the water from the lid in spring and summer, air it out ~30 minutes, and then seal them up again. I was trying to avoid excessive moisture that would lead to fungal issues around the cutting itself. I've found that having the medium more dry actually helps success/reduces rot.

[@FrancoisMcinnes]

Not sure I get what u do with them in the fall. U said I take them to heal. What does it mean. U bring them inside? U transplant them in a pot?

[@happymaplenursery]

Hey, It's called 'heeling in' - basically you dig a trench, bare root the trees, carefully bundle them together, and temporarily plant them in the trench until Spring. At that time, you'll dig them out and plant them just as buds start to break. Hope that clarifies!

[@happymaplenursery]

You could also just leave them where they are as well. I want to minimize removing roots as they'll be holding precious stored carbohydrates to help the trees make it through winter.

[@benholmes9680]

Thanks for the video! I see so many japanese maple that are grafted Do some cultivars have to be grafted and are others fine without? I have 2 japanese maples, both are grafted Just curious if cuttings or air layering will actually root and do well

[@happymaplenursery]

Hello, Ya, the typical method for Japanese maple varieties most easily found is to quickly graft the desired variety onto a standard green leaf rootstock - fine for a garden tree, but not so great if you're looking to use them for bonsai (that said, there are some great tricks to disguise grafts well) I think it's usually done for speed/efficiency in the mass produced tree nursery trade, and as you mention, some varieties do not root easily. Even in my video, you can see the difference in the two boxes: one having lots of rooted cuttings vs. the second box with much less. The less successful box was filled with Korean maples, halfmoon maples, and a dissectum/lace-leaf Japanese maple variety that I've really had a hard time getting to strike. Lots of experimentation with timing and set-ups can help improve yields, but I think some types are just more stubborn than others from my experience and research - same goes for air layers. If you're looking at a maple you want to propagate (layering or cuttings), I'd recommend doing a bit of research on your variety to see what others may be reporting. I do find that there's a ton of conflicting information, so proceed critically! You'll probably just have to try a few approaches at some point and see what works in your hands.

[@happymaplenursery]

Also, some methods can get very fancy with auto misters and providing a certain type of environment in a greenhouse, so keep this in mind too as you look at what works and what doesn't from others. One of the best parts about the method we show here is that it's incredibly low tech and pretty feasible for nearly anyone. Thanks for watching!

[@benholmes9680]

@@happymaplenursery thanks for the info! I will look into what I got and just try some experiments out, why not I do have a small greenhouse and mister set up inside that's great for any cuttings That's worked well before for other plants

[@BONSAITAXUS-bt3jx]

hi, very good technique, I will try it on my side as well, Thanks a lot !