Looks like you'll be needing some cuttings :) Not too sure on Picea's but know winter is usually a prominent time...however, here in the midwest the "cheapest" time to do cuttings of Thuja, Chamaecyparis, etc- are in April/May as the new growth is emerging. Semi-hardwood to hardwood cuttings. For you your plants will begin to grow beforehand than in my climate. That's your best time!

Look me up and I'll "hook you up!"

Dax

By the response to my first post in this thread, your extreme interest in this subject is obvious. haha
Just give me a sign so I know you're reading!

The second to root is a Thuja occidentalis '4ever Goldy' started 11/02/08.
Found at Lowe's.

Contrary to this Summer's results, the cuttings in peat plugs are much healthier and callusing better. Go figure....

Barbara

http://www.zszp.pl/index.php?dnr=5&pnr=34&ppnr=87

Here is a link that might be useful: Thuja occidentalis '4ever Goldy'

I'll try this again as it seems as if I click on the "trash my reply" key

I've used similar gadgets to root Lagerstroemia indica and Paxistima cambyi and some other odds & ends and never attempted conifers in them. But you say azaleas root well? I'll pass that on to a buddy who grows a lot of azaleas and rhodies

so Barb - you say you purchased thuja occidentalis '4ever Goldy' -- which if I read your links correctly is actually thuja PLICATA '4ever Goldy' - at Lowes - I didn't know they were that available here in the States - I did find a link to Parks Seed that sells them in a collection of three different plants for $42 something US, But that's sorta steep considering I don't want or need the other two.

Hey...Thanks for reading Marshall!

occidentalis...that's what it was sold as...what do I know?

I was quite surprised too when it became a hunt to find info online.
Assumed it was an "invalid name" and still may be labeled incorrectly.
Described as 6-8 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
Beautiful golden winter color.

With any luck I'll have a potted rooted cutting to send you in 6 mos

Barbara

Barb, real nice plant. I'm going to send you an email if I can from here. I'll send you some cuttings. Maybe you could root one of those Thuja's for me as well??

Dax

This may be considered "counting my chickens before they hatch", but sure, I'd be pleased to send you one Dax!
Just remember that Lowe's is the source; meaning it could be mislabeled too.
Two of them were purchased (1 gal).
One to plant and one to strip for cuttings.
There is easily enough foliage left for my winter and spring propagation trials.

This is fun!

Barbara

Hey Ho...how's everyone doing?
Started pruning the vineyard this week. It is going much faster than usual because the vines were shoot thinned in the spring, resulting in less stuff to cut off now. Yeah!

Did a close inspection of the cloner cuttings mid week. Found (hidden in the peat plugs) two different Juniperus with roots; 'Blue Star' and 'Lemon Spire'. These plugs continue to surprise me by producing better callused cuttings than the neoprene inserts. A bigger surprise was to see Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' callused, with one cutting having what appears to be root initiation.

At the mid-week inspection water temperature was increased from 68F to 70F. I kept it lower than recommended to save $ on electricity. Those already rooted had a growth spurt (of roots); turned the temp up to 72F today. Barbara's livin' large! Another energy saving trick used is having the lights cycle on and off throughout their 14 hour day. Helps keep things cooler in the summer too...

It will be time to start the February cuttings in just a few weeks. I'll do the same cultivars for a good comparison.

Barbara

I am interested in the cloning process, it just is hard to type a follow-up @ 6:00 am. Mugs of coffee are needed first.
I'm often in Lowes for building supplies, hubby & I own rental property, & are working on a new house for ourselves. Why do they have to put plumbing department so far from garden center it is so unfair. Oh well. Last time I was in Lowes ,the garden center looked very bare, guess they are getting ready for new plants to arrive.
I got a plant heat mat for Xmas and starting some cuttings. Juniper s. Pathfinder, Cryptomeria japonica 'Yoshino' Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice', Carolina Sapphire, Thuja plicata  ZebrinaÂ, Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis' & a Picea orientalis "unknown", a former tenent left it when he moved out, telling me it was some sort of pine, and would grow to about 100 ft tall.
Maybe some of them will root. Later, Joyce

Barb congrats, thanks ;-) and thanks for the laugh _ You livin' large baby!

Check out this thread. I've learned a lot with a phone call the other day. I spoke to thee right person.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Homemade Cloning Machine - Propagation Forum

wow! A cloning machine! I used to use a kitchen kit to clone hostas! Now I just cheat and use 'Woods' rooting hormone. Take the cuttings in late spring, before the new growth begins to harden, and cram them into trays filled with Sunshine growers mix (number 2). About six month later they are ready to go into 2 1/4 inch pots.
By Next spring they go into 4" containers where the spend an entire year, sometimes, two.
I have some P.g. 'Albertina Globe' that are a full year old, and still about the size of half my thumb.
Steven

Hey Steven! I've been meaning to get around to asking you the approximate date and process you use for cuttings...now I know. I'm not gifted in the traditional cutting process: too wet...too dry...too hot...too cold. The cloner is great as, when set up correctly, it takes care of all that for you. Plus, I love technology.

Joyce, your heat mat for Xmas made me chuckle and smile. Santa was to bring a moisture sensor, but dropped off a floor vacuuming 'Roomba' instead. That thing is the most reliable help ever; vacuums automatically every day. The floors have never been so clean, plus that means more time outside for me.

Barbara

Sorted through the Fall cuttings in the cloner, making room for the next batch in my on going experiment. Those that rooted well were potted, while the rest were either left in the cloner, stuck in a flat, or thrown out.

The generalized findings for the November cuttings in the order of most successful rooting, or callus formation when no roots present;

Ilex
Thuja
Juniperus
Chamaecyparis
Pinus
Picea

Here are a few photos of the results:

And our delicious Kumquat tree...

Barbara

Very impressive. I didn't have much success with my aeroponic system...in two weeks algae started to grow..
How often do you change water, and how fast can you see root formation in juniper and picea sp.?
Thank you

Is that an Athrotaxis I see under the humidity dome?

Hi Barbara. Nice little laboratory set-up you've got there.Soon you'll be able to start your own Conifer nursery.Remember the posts with Mr Bush about february cuttings?I must admit ;I've not taken a single cutting yet: too busy doing other things ,plus the low temps. wich we continue to experience mean that our heated propagating benches are not switched on yet(we have expensive electricity days at the moment (normal tariff X 10 !!!).
I guess it will still be possible to take cuttings later on.Thanks for the pictures. T.

Marchela...be prepared for a lot of trial and error with your aeroponic cloner. It can have a large learning curve...

I'll just list a few things that work for me:

I should change water every two weeks, but don't always get around to it.

One important aspect of hydroponics is keeping things clean. Be sure to soak everything in a bleach solution between propagation runs, rinse well, then let sit for 12 hours to let any residual chlorine dissipate.

Reverse osmosis water works best here, as our well water has a pH between 8 and 8.5

Use a water additive to prevent fungal diseases such as Hydro-guard or Actinovate. Google for information.

Diseases grow better in warm water; keep water temp below 72F

Most algae need light to grow...are you sure that's the problem? I only get algae on the tray top, not in the reservoir.

This is the first time I have tried rooting Juniperus or Picea. After three months, only one Picea had even callused; Picea abies 'Hildburghausen'. The Juniperus I started took a couple of months to root.

Hey Stiffy...did I read you are back in Chicago? Sorry to say what you are seeing is a Cupressus macrocarpa cultivar. They have been in the cloner since July, have been callused for several months, and finally may be rooting.

Tunilla...hard to forget Mr Bush's Lace! I've heard late spring can be a good time to take cuttings, won't require as much heating then either. What is the design of your propagation benches? We're putting up a very small greenhouse for propagation and need some interior set-up ideas. Are you able to do rock-work on the house through the winter? Miss you...

Barbara

Hey Barbara, I took a few shots of our propagating benches in the Cactus and succulent house.These are basically of simple construction,made out of treated timber (fir I believe) and measure 5 X 15 ft each. We have 26 of them but only a couple have soil heating cables installed in them.These last ones are the ones we use for seed raising and rooting some of the more delicate or difficult plants.

Here's a general vieuw of the main greenhouse,with the seed-raising benches on the right.

Seed-raising benches showing soil thermostat

These benches have split-cane bamboo matting installed above them all year round.They cast a moving shade on the young plants below.At one time we had plastic sheeting covering these benches,but we found that we get around just as well without it.For rooting conifers it would probably be indispensible.

Some of our young babies,eagerly awaiting their first drink of the year (they've been bone-dry since october!)

You were saying you were installing a small greenhouse for propagating.One word of warning::: small greenhouses heat-up very quickly and can attain oven-like temps ;make sure there is ample provision for ventilation,or get some 75% shade netting or install it somewhere where there is no afternoon sun.
Also,there are some very neat aluminium or stainless steel benches available; excellent for sub-irrigation and easily disinfected.
Hope this was useful.
PS.My apologies to the forum-purists for intruding into the conifer-world with our other needle-bearing friends wich can be found in Nature from Canada all the way down to Patagonica in Southern Argentina. T

Wow, incredible set-up!

Josh

I'm speechless Mr. T. Your cactus and succulent house is amazing. All the colors...so many plants...wow! Have you discovered and named new varieties?
Thank you too for the advice on using a small greenhouse.

Cactus were my first. Mom set aside a small corner of the yard for my cactus garden when I was ten years old. Then came a cold winter and they all froze. Herbs were next, then scented geranium...almost a never ending list.

Barbara

Hi Barbara. I have done some cross-breeding of cacti and have managed to select some nice hybrids.The cactus-scene is quite different from the conifer-scene,though. Cactus-collectors want 'the true species' and,if possible,with habitat-data and so on.Hybrids and cultivars are very much looked upon as de-generated creatures....Unfortunately,I'm afraid that that's where the future lies,because ever-more stringent laws and regulations make it almost impossible to commercialise a good number of species,without risking being labelled a 'trafficker' and having to prove the origins of the plants .We have multiplied thousands of endangered cacti and were always in the belief that we were doing our bit for conservation....no longer so I'm afraid .Cold shower,believe me !
Funny you should say about your plant-loves.My mum said she had a cactus collection wich froze to death during the winter when I was born (55-56).Also,I remember bringing home from Switserland ,when I was ten or so,a sapling of a conifer for her.(It didn't live,wich was probably just as well,as we had a tiny garden and the seedling was uprooted in a forest of gigantic trees!)
Wonderful unconscious world!!! T