Hepaticas from root cuttings

[angie]

KK, doing a bit of catching up, love your pictures, thanks for taking the time to show us these delights.
I have nothing special but love them all the same.

Angie

[Natalia]

Chris, I thank!
At me it has turned out - on a photo - small young plants turned out of root cuttings.

[mark smyth]

How did I miss those stunning Hepaticas. I want a yellow one

and a timely reminder to repot mine - can someone remind me of a good potting mix?

[partisangardener]

Has there been any new findings about this root cutting without part of the rhizome? Especially with H.nobilis?
Should be the right time now?

[annew]

No luck with some I did last year.

[brianw]

Only just found this tread.
Don't I remember one nursery (Aswoods?) suggesting repotting each year into the same size pot by cutting off the bottom of the root ball, adding fresh compost and putting the shortened plant back? Seems we should use the bottom of the root ball too and hope, although maybe leaving the old root ball closer to the surface.
I guess it might depend on how much you paid for the original plant before you do this.

[KK-Ann Arbor]

Many Japanese gardening books and magazines give Hepatica growing tips and some of them often mention propagation by root cuttings but few describe specific processes.  It must be a fairly common practice.  I found one article with some information.  This article describes the process as follows:
Trim the thick part of the root to 1-2 cm from the top when repotting Hepatics as when roots get too long they become susceptible to rot.
Apply Benomyl paste or similar antibacterials to the wounds. 
Pot the trimmed roots covering the entire part.
If you are lucky, you will see a new growth in the spring.

Last June when I repotted my Hepaticas, I trimmed those with long roots and potted the trimmings in separate pots.  There were about 2 dozens of them.  I just checked those pots and found 1 has a small bud forming.  Not a very good yield but I am happy with it.
 
I will be more carefull how I pot the root cuttings this year.

Koko
         

[Leena]

This is all very informative, I think I will try this method also. 

[Peppa]

I just found this thread and I am catching up reading it! It's very interesting! Thanks Chris and Koko for the info! Actually I have read several Japanese web sites talking about this method but I didn't know we can use such small roots. I must try this method!

These are the Japanese sites that show how to propagate from root cuttings but they are using bigger pieces...
http://www.yukiwarisou-tachi.com/nebuse.html
http://www.cc9.ne.jp/~haru/yukiwarisou-nebuse.htm
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/yukiwarigusa/diary/201211080000/

In Japan, people do this method in the fall because if you do it in the spring, the roots might rot during the rainy season (June or July, when it gets hot and humid) and summer.

[KK-Ann Arbor]

Pepa-san, thank you for posting links.  They show the process clearly.
As you pointed out, most of my root cuttings did not survive because of the high temparature and humidity during the summer.
I will have to come up with ways to keep them drier without killing or take cuttings in the fall.
This year, I also want to try the method Chris showed.

Koko

[annew]

Very interesting links, Peppa. They are using the older, lower part of the rhizome rather than individual roots. Maybe that is where I'm going wrong?

[Mavers]

Absolutely fascinating thank you  for posting Peppa.

Now I must summon the courage to try it!

[Mavers]

What time of year do you think we should do it in this country Anne?

[annew]

Just did it! Any time you are repotting and accidentally decapitate one...

[Guff]

Was looking for info about Hepaticas and saw this thread as well. You can start a single plant just from the stem with the leaf? 

https://www.nargsnw.org/hepatica-study-group?lightbox=dataItem-itceq3qh


https://www.nargsnw.org/hepatica-study-group