How to remove a miniature spruce tree that's growing on branch of another spruce, so that it can stand alone?

Question

How to remove a miniature spruce tree that's growing on branch of another spruce, so that it can stand alone?

Answer 1

p**s on it

Answer 2

i have no idea.

Answer 3

You have a couple choices and it sort of depends on the size of the shoot that you want to root.  

If it is fairly small (say less than ¾ inch diameter), you can cut it off, dip the cut end in a rooting hormone (i.e. Rootone) and place it in a rooting substrate (peat moss, etc).  With some care, it will likely root out and be able to be planted outside in a few months.

Now, if it is fairly big, it takes a little more time and effort.  Starting about two inches above the cross branch, make a couple of cuts through the bark into the next layer down (cambium layer).  You don’t want to go all the way around- you will kill the branch; you just want to remove two patches of bark about ¾ inch long and about a quarter of the diameter of the branch.  Put quite a bit of Rootone on the two cuts, then cover it with potting soil/peat moss and keep it moist.  The easiest way I have found is to use a strip of burlap (you can get burlap in the fabric section of Wal-Mart).  I attach it below the cuts with a wire tie and make a very loose wrap around the branch (out a couple inches from the branch).  Now fill this void with the soil, and keep wrapping it, ending up above the cuts with a wire tie.  It will look like a big burlap balloon on the branch.  Now, keep it watered and in a few weeks you should be able to cut it off below the burlap and plant it.  I wouldn’t suggest cutting it until you start to see roots below the surface of the burlap.  I’ve done this on a couple species of trees with good luck (both hardwood and softwood). Hope this helps!