I am looking for the best way to open the Uline bags. While I am proud of the root ball this cutting now has I am also apprehensive to up pot it and disturb the roots.

Is this enough roots to up pot?

I noticed some browning of some roots, is this normal?

How long could I typically wait to up pot to a 1 gal? The lows here at night are 40s-50s and I don't want to do the inside\outside shuffle.

Oh, and should I drench the soil before I take it out of the bag so roots don't stick to the bag?

I know its alot of questions but I would just like to try & get it right without killing it. Thanks for your help!

Hi Jenn,

Here is my method:

Put about an inch of growing mix into the container
Slice across the bottom of the bag and about an inch up the sides
Place the bag into the container and add another ~2 inches of growing mix
Start working the bag up. If it is stuck/tight, you can press down on the root ball with a finger while you pull up on the bag
Once loose, fill the container with growing mix
Pull the bag up and over your tree
Tamp the container down a bit and add more mix as needed.

I *think* I remember the following hints:
Watering the tree the day before helps the Baggie come loose easier
Use damp growing mix helps the bag slide up easier
Practice with the ones that are less desirable and/or you have more of

Congrats and good luck

Temps in he 40s shouldn't be a problem. You will want to move them as soon as possible to help them get ready for the Texas heat.

Thank you James. I will water them today and prepare to up pot them to 1 gal tomorrow.

I only have a "lean-to" to put them in outside. Think they would still be ok for the cuttings? I sooo wish I had a greenhouse but I don't. Its on my wish list. I know its going to get hot here pretty quick.

Slit them with a scissors.

Thanks Jon, I will :)

One more question. Are the brownish roots natural? Do they turn brown with age?

Jenn,

I missed a couple of things earlier.  Before I put stuff in the bag, I snip the corners.  This not only serves as drainage holes, but it also provides an entry point for the scissors to slit the bottoms to get the trees out.  Also, once I slit the bottom and the sides, I fold the plastic up to expose the bottom of the rootball.  This prevents the plastic from getting caught on the roots or growing mix.

Great! I did snip the sides and I was just thinking it would be easier to cut it open. I will have to remember to fold it up. Thanks!

You can also use a razor blade to open the bag.  Just avoid the roots.  Lay the bag down to avoid having the soil scatter.  Have the pot ready to accept the cutting to minimize root disturbance.

After looking at a couple others I think I might use an exact knife as the others have a bit more roots than the one in the pic.

I also think I will wait one more week till the 40s are gone and do it all next weekend. I hope I can do it right!

After all the snippy comments from my husband (sticks this, more sticks?) He finally said, wow! I can't believe you were able to get a tree growing from a stick. Lol!

you need something special to open those... like...

http://www.benchmade.com/products/model_lgshot.asp?model=1000-101

Jenn,
What is the mix you're using in the bags? I got my bags and was planning on using the vermiculite/sphagnum mix in Jon's write-up, but yours seem to be doing well in whatever that mix is.

Thanks,

Jeff

Jeff, I'm using a peat/perlite mix. I thought it was 50/50 but judging by my pic, my estimate was probably wrong. I also didn't screen the perlite either as you can see. My poor cuttings have been put through the ringer so I'm quite surprised they are doing so well.

I had first tried to root them in spangnum moss but my house was too cold and they just sat there in moss for a month. So I took them out of the moss (no roots) and put them directly into the bags with the peat/perlite mix which was moist and left them in a bin with the lid on.

Thinking it was still too cool for them to root, I bought a seedling heat mat & they took off within a matter of 3 weeks! I really liked this method and you can fit a lot of them in a humidity bin too! Once they have a good amount of roots I have been taking them out and putting them under a light with whatever the humidity is in the room and leaves are still doing well (if I take them out before the leaves start).

Thanks for asking!

Jeff I also forgot to add that I did not water. The soil was moist enough when I started to hold a loose ball and I didn't water till the first week of March. Even then I only gave them a teaspoon. Yes the top was dry and so was the bottom (from the heat mat) but I still didn't water. There was still condensation on the inside of the bags.

I am by no means an expert as this is my 2nd year. Last year I drowned my cuttings and I decided that this year no more water! It has worked so far.

when I did water I did it with a syringe that has a long curved tip and did it through the holes in the bottom of the bag. 1 teaspoon.

I wanted something that was kinda set it and forget it. So I set it & would check them twice a week. The date on my bags (2-1-14) is the date I put them in the bags with no roots.

I did have some cuttings that this past week still didn't have roots so I cut those bags open and found 2 did have roots while the others (10) didn't. So I just rinsed them off and threw them into some moss. A couple were rotten on the bottom so I cut it off. Hopefully they will still root. Hopefully.

I know you didn't ask me about all this but it might help someone. Everyone has their own way of what works for them and this has worked for me :)

Jenn,

Pretty much ditto what James and Jon say.  

I cut the bottom, entering through drainage holes with scissors.   Have a one gallon pot ready with an inch or so of soil, then while cradling bag in one hand, run the scissors up length of bag.   Clasping the bag closed, as well as possible, place in pot, hold it, while filling with loose damp mix.   When almost full, making sure cutting is centered, while holding end of cutting, slip bag out.   May take a gentle jerking motion to coax loose!   Last, a gentle tamping of soil and top off if needed. 

Sharp thin pointed scissors a plus!     Works like a charm for me, I hope the same for you.

I actually slit from to to bottom corner, and almost always can "rip" the bottom along the heat seal line.