Best Way to Air Layer?

[benbonsai]

I plan on doing it to a juniper squamata and a Benjamin fig and have never done one before.
I was just wondering what the best way to apply an air layer would be. I was planning on making some baskets out of gutter mesh and applying spagnum around he layer and then soil in the basket or should I do it with just spagnum and glad wrap?

Cheers

[alpineart]

Hi benbonsai , either way will work , I use open pot layering now saves time and the hassle of watering inside the plastic bags as the plants and layers are watered the same time .

An open mix for pot layering is essentual . When you severe the top the layer is basically already potted and can remain there in that pot for another season or two .

Cheers Alpineart

[Bougy Fan]

I just soak the sphagnum moss in seasol (thanks Ray) and then I use alfoil to hold it in place. I have found using other ingredients - diatomite, vermiculite, scoria or zeolite makes the medium dry out quicker and take longer. I always use a rooting hormone on the top side of the cut, even on figs,

[pureheart]

What is your preferred technique and most successful of air layering?


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[Bougy Fan]

I always use the ringbark method - I find it is the most successful. Have used the tourniquet method only as supplemental to try and stop the layer being bridged with difficult species.

[Beano]

I've done ringbark method several times and it's always worked. I've done that to my big crabapple too but also tried putting the wire under the top of the ring bark cut to try to get roots to spread outwards instead of downwards in the layers, so we'll see if that works. My quickest plant to develop roots in an air layer was a bougainvillea. Chinese elm are fast too. The crabapple was very slow but I left it too late in the year I think.

[kcpoole]

the deciding factor for me is where the donor tree is,
if somewhere that gets watered every day (or can be) then Open basket layer works well
If in a hard to get place or somewhere that you cannot (or will not water daily) then wrap in plastic to keep moisture at the site

Ken

[benbonsai]

Thanks for all the replies people, lots to think about.
Ken, your post is what I was thinking this morning before I posted, I was more worried about the layer drying out. I am able to water daily so I think I'll be safe with the mesh.

Cheers