OK so I posted a while back about an elm yamadori I got that had next to no fine roots with it. I used the black bag method to keep the air around it humid. Basically just had the tree covered with a black bag for around two weeks, opening the bag every couple days to let some fresh air in.
Anyway, the tree has started to bud now, which is giving me some hope that it’ll live. But my question is, once it’s budding, do I still keep the black bag on? I’ve had trees develop foliage in darkness before (during shipping), and the foliage is usually extremely weak and extended, very little chlorophyll and so it’s sensitive to sunlight as well, and liable to die off.
Given that this is a yamadori in a condition that is less than ideal, having no roots and all, would I keep the bag on, despite the possibility of it losing its entire first flush? I’ve taken it off now and I’m just compensating by misting the tree throughout the day. I work from home so it’s not a problem for me to tend to it obsessively.
The previous thread you began about this has good information about the method. I would suggest you revisit the post.by @bigorangedrink and the videos he provided. Help with yamadori field elm (ulmus minor)
As I understand the method is about creating warmth which in turn promotes root growth. The bag is also not removed for 60-90 days and even then you must protect the foliage from burn.
I find that with the black bag once there is a good amount of foliage I replace the black bag with a clear one to create a greenhouse effect with light coming in. Every now and then I will open it and mist the foliage and keep the ground moist but not wet.
Oh, it survived all right! It grew like crazy last season. The first flush had super super tiny leaves with really tight internodes. When those got to like 15cm length, I took it out of the bag and got a second flush that grew super long, with larger leaves.
It kept growing after that for quite a while. Our fall started in November this year, most of my trees kept their green and kept growing until December almost.
It actually started leafing out today on the oldest branches but I don’t have any photos.
