Hello, I'm sorry to say that these are not roots, rather some kind of fungus, that should not be there. The roots are born in bubbles that come out along the trunk. Fijaos aqui en el lugar y en la forma que nacen.
They can come out of the nodes, but in such small twigs it is rare that they come out in the nodes and according to my experience where they come out the most is along the entire trunk. However, in many other varieties of plants it is very normal that the roots appear first in the nodes, but not in the maples.
The big advantage of starting cuttings in water is that you can actually see when roots begin to grow. Maybe it's the best method for maples but in my experience rooting rhododendron and other woody plants it is not the best way for all because so-called 'water roots' are usually very fragile and can easily be damaged when you try to pot them. Very briefly, here is the method used to start rhododendrons and many other shrubs: First, you want everything as sterile as possible and tools sharp. Several cuttings fit in a 6-inch pot. Keep the cutting short, remove the lower leaves, cut a sliver of bark off the lower part of the cutting, dip in rooting hormone, insert in damp 50/50 perlite/peat mix, and cover with a clear plastic bag - and wait. It can take weeks, if not months, for some cuttings to root - if at all. Check that the soil remains moist, not wet. New leaves may mean that the cutting has rooted but not necessarily. When you think enough time has elapsed, you can very carefully tip the soil out of the pot and see if any roots are visible (the most exciting part, if they are.) Gradually remove the plastic bag over a period of days. Repot individual cuttings into separate pots.
@Margot thanks - I may try this method with the cuttings which have leaves. What's your success rate like using this method?
I don't think so. From my experience, and from others' opinions around me, rooting maple cuttings in water doesn't work. At the time when chemical hormones were still allowed here, I tried several times and it never worked. I was waiting to see how Mani's cuttings would develop, that's why I didn't reply earlier, but : I don't think these are roots. If these cuttings root, as we say in French "I'll swallow my hat" (j'avalerai mon chapeau). We'll see...
LOL All right, let's be sentencious again : "avaler son chapeau" is an old expression that means, admitting you were wrong. In the 18th century, men would salute their lord by removing their hat and bowing to him. But since "avaler" means also "to swallow", the initial meaning of the verb was lost and more and more people used "manger" ("to eat") instead. I can admit I was wrong (though I hate it !), but I would never ever eat a hat... I never, or very rarely wear a hat. I have a leather one I bought years ago at Kew gardens, but you know, there are chemicals used in treating leather, hence your expression "Mad as a hatter", and... But that's another story. Back to bonnets. I mean, maples....
@AlainK is that sweat I can see on your forehead? :D You heard it here first folks!! I'm starting to pray now :) I never knew that about the mad as a hatter expression! Thanks! Let us all pray.........
I much prefer facts to beliefs ^_^ "The chemicals used in hat-making included mercurous nitrate, used in curing felt. Prolonged exposure to the mercury vapors caused mercury poisoning." etc. See also : Minamata
Slight update on the cuttings in my original post on this thread. Last night I thought I saw what looked like a root although I wasnt 100% as it may have been some sphagnum moss. However, this morning it had grown 1-2cm so I knew for sure. The blue arrow shows the root. I have now planted this in soil, hoping it doesnt rot as zfritzz suggested it might!
LOL Good luck with it, but still, I don't think these are roots. Or I'll swallow my bonnet this time - we now have to wear ridiculous bonnets at the swimming-pool, I didn't know Covid-19 could be caught through hair... ^^
Let me check the date........nope, not the 1st of April! Hmm, now, let me check your temperature, @AlainK! Perhaps a little sun stroke is setting in?? :D If that isn't a root then what is it? A bean shoot perhaps? A preying mantis worm that can stay incredibly still?? It grew overnight! I am setting the dinner table for you, @AlainK...........!
Some kind of fungus I think. or perhaps you used a "magic potion": what is it ? We'll see. I like learning.
Hold on here a minute! Mani, in your last post with pictures you have 1 photo with rotting (not rooting) cuttings in water, stems covered in white fungus and seconds from death; then you show 2 photos of healthy, vibrant cuttings in sphagnum moss showing a fat root. Are you trying to say these are all the same plant to get Alain to eat his bonnet, lol? I'm not buying it, but good for you if you can get him to to bite.
