RE: Cherry Tree: Growth and Renewal [Bonsai]

Good question.

Trees don't normally grow directly in water. I've only had that work with Willows. Even after removing them from a water jar, and transferring to soil, they can stress out and die. I think this is because water roots rot very easily when the ground temperature changes, and bugs are eating the juicy, rotten roots. In soil, the cutting would normally develop a stronger taproot first with a better callous.

Actually I pruned limbs I did from this tree, I put them into my rooting soil mixture, and they are already sprouting fresh new leaves. I was incredibly surprised. Lots of wet sand is best, as it holds things tightly in place, and holds moisture throughout. Coco fiber and peat is also good, but does not grip as well and dries out fast, and this seems to be working on my Chinese Elm, Gooseberry and Grape cuttings. Horticulture sand (thicker grain) has incredible results for most cuttings. Bonsai soil is also good, but the most expensive choice.

The rooting tub I use is a mixture of all these, and I haven't really refreshed it in years, so it has all sorts of natural microbes and such mixed in I am sure.

Another miracle choice I have tried is burying a cutting deep under a mound of compost. Only leave one bud barely exposed so leaves can find the light, and a leaf stem will emerge like a seedling. Chinese Elm loves this.

I usually do not use any rooting hormone, unless I only have a few precious cuttings I am hoping will root. I prefer to soak willow cuttings in water, or lay them on top of the soil, to allow the Indolebutyric acid to trickle down as a natural rooting hormone over the cutting I am attempting to root. Willow grows so fast, it is easy to collect cuttings year round and use it as a rooting hormone when needed.

I have not found any solutions for conifers yet that work in my collection. Still learning!