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Separating Bald CYpress Seedlings...

ginkgooccidentalis

15 years ago

I have a handful of Taxodium seedlings growing in a one gallon pot. They are getting tall, and I am wondering if I should wait to separate them until the fall, when they are dormant, or if I should try to root prune some of them? My past experience with this species is that they have very sensitive roots, and if touched or moved while "in leaf" they will wilt and die, especially when young. They are only a few months old. Any ideas, suggestions to reduce potential mortality rate?

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hortster
15 years ago
Hey, since no one is chiming in I will stick my neck in the noose.
Firstly, I have no experience with Taxodium SEEDLINGS. But I have experience with Taxodium. This is a water loving plant. Here in 6A it does well with regular moisture (29" per year) but defoiates during a severe drought without supplemental water.
My nursery planted three 2" trees at the beginning of a drought year. The friggin' owner did't provide any supplemental water, and they totally defoliated. He insisted that they were dead. We demanded that water be applied in abundance, and viola! the trees re-foliated. Defoliation is a natural defense for Taxodium.
My point is this: I would SPECULATE that you could divide the seedlings into individual pots, first drowning the original container, and as the seedlings are divided instantly put them into a water filled container. When you individually repot them, make sure that the new seedling pots are in water standing in a tray. I would bet that all will do well. Do NOT DO ANY ROOT PRUNING as that would further cause them to react to drought.
Anyone else out there want to comment? I'd love to learn - I have a baldcypress in the wettest part of my yard and it loves it here in dry Kansas because of the extra moisture!
Hortster
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