Air layering tips for an old Washington navel orange

[Biofusion]

The old girl has a VERY old Washington navel orange tree in the back yard.

It's got huge fruit, THE BEST for eating and juicing.

Problem is, they don't produce a lot of seeds. So im thinking of air layering it to get a few trees out it.

Any tips? Is there something g specific I should be doing for citrus air layering?

[shibui]

Should be no problem layering citrus. Just use standard technique and materials. Most also grow well from cuttings. Probably better to wait until weather warms up because citrus don't like cold much.

Are the layers for fruit? I read in one propagation article that fruit quality in citrus is reliant on the rootstock and grown on their own roots may not produce the same nice fruit.

[Biofusion]

Yeah i figured I would wait until spring.

The layers would be for bonsai as well as for fruit.

I figured the same thing g regarding rootstock, however because I can't get a lot of seed, as the fruit physically doesn't produce much, then this is a stop gap measure

[Phoenix238]

Your other option is grafting onto stronger rootstock if your aim is for fruit, but grafting is not ideal for bonsai

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[shibui]

I figured the same thing g regarding rootstock, however because I can't get a lot of seed, as the fruit physically doesn't produce much, then this is a stop gap measure

Citrus are not usually grafted onto Orange rootstock. There would be no point grafting orange onto orange roots. Usually poncirus trifoliata; 'rough orange' (not sure of that species) or citrange? hybrid.

[Biofusion]

Sorry that was a quick reply. I meant an air layer was the stop gap measure