bonsaidad

Which in your opinion is the better method for air layering?.

1- with a pot cut, and wrapped around the branch, or trunk, filled with sphagnum moss.

2- sphagnum moss wrapped around the branch, or trunk and wrapped with a cling film, or foil.

I am curious to know as i am about to try this for the first time, and i want to get the best possible chance of success.



Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

Mattbonsai

I've not done any air-layering myself.
But I'd assume that the pot method would be the most effective, for two reasons which I can think of, its secure - less chance of damage from physical abuse such as pigeon / squirrel attack, and it should protect the young roots from frost damage better than thinner polythene.

-Matt-

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bonsaidad

Thanks Matt, i would think you would want some sort of protection with the new roots, but how would you then see if there roots were big enough to do a chop.
With a plastic bag you could see through it, but then a clear plastic container, which are readily available would allow you to see the roots.

I have a large trunk to air layer, it measures around 8" across in diameter, and is reasonably accessible to me.
I have nothing to loose, so this spring i am going to go for it, i have read Harry Harrington's article on the subject, and it all seems straight forward.



Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

Mattbonsai

Mmmmmmm, 8" is rather big,

There are clear Orchid pots that would work, but it wouldn't take much to split the pot open to check every now and then, you will have to cut a slit down one side to get it onto the stem anyway, so you could just open this up one a week/ fortnight to have a check.

-Matt-

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bonsaidad

Thanks Matt, the trees in question are down my in-laws, which is around 15 miles away, and we travel there about every three weeks so i could check then, and get my father-in-law to water them.
There are plenty of places to get plastic Orchid pots from, so that wont be a problem, and it will be far easier to water than in a plastic bag, just cover with cling film, and pierce a small hole in the top.
So i will now wait until next April/May and get busy on it, but obviously i will let you know how it turned out, by starting another thread.


Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

BONSAI_OUTLAW

I prefer the cut pot meathod.

pondering sage

i have had good success airlayering with plastic wrap and electrical tape. the seal was so good that i only had to water the project twice through the summer. It is a good set it and forget it method. the draw back is not having a third hand to hold a bunch of moss as you wrap it. Either way would work well.
Thicker branches are worth a shot if you dont mind risking the loss of the branch. you could use bubble wrap to help insulate it, and leave it on through the winter and beyond.
-p-

bonsaidad

I did not think it possible to do this through the winter period, even with a good insulation cover like bubble wrap, but the tree lies dormant thought this period so what advantage would there be in doing this?.
With the eight inch trunk a plastic wrap would be easier to use than a large pot, and i probably would use a Duck tape to seal it.
But for the smaller tree i will in all probability use the pot method, and start in the spring.


Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

pondering sage

the advantage would be getting a jump start on it. If it is on the tree already , you don't have to do it again in the spring. You can get two seasons of growth before dismantling the airlayer giving more finicky trees time to take root. Here in Portland with moderate winters, it's no problem to leave layers on with some protection.

bonsaidad

Our winters rarely go below -5c as we are very close to the coast, and my in-laws are about the same, but they look out on to an estuary.
If it was inland, then temps would go down considerably lower, but not here!.
I am down that way next week, so i may give it a bash.



Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.