Air Layering Cumquat trees

[Ray M]

Hi everyone,
Last year Ray Nesci asked if I would have a go at layering a couple of his Cumquat trees. I put 9 layers on. I checked the layers yesterday to see if any could be removed. The weather hasn't been kind to Ray over the last season and the trees in the ground have certainly suffered. However there were a few layers ready to come off.

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I removed all the fruit and thorns today. I also did a bit more pruning. You will notice there are some yellow leaves. Once the new roots get established I will introduce a fertilizer regime and hopefully the trees will gain strength fairly quickly. See how things go over the next few months.

Regards Ray

[Jason]

Thanks for sharing Ray, your picture tutorials are always great

[Paulneill]

Nice one ray.

I got a small cumquat cutting from ray 2 years ago . I have found them to be very slow growing . I asume that's why you always see grafted ones with the ugly graft.

[Ash]

This species (Fortunella hindsii) is naturally slow growing. I also obtained one from Ray Nesci so have the same stock. Regarding your layers - well done! One suggestion to anyone working with this species is to keep removing the flowers to prevent fruit set while the tree is in training. I know of one very old tree (upwards of 40 years as bonsai) here in North Queensland that would be less than 30 cm high and carries a good hundred or more mini-kumquats every year! It is still only about 2 cm trunk diameter.

Good luck - and thanks for making more of this very lovely tree.

Ash

[Isitangus]

Ray your layers always seem to work-perhaps I missed it but can you point to me to a thread where you detail your technique?

[Bougy Fan]

This is one of Ray's tutorials HERE that has great step by step photos

[Isitangus]

Thanks bougy

[Meegs]

I have wanted a hindsii for such a long time. Is there anyone there willing/able to post one (seed/plant) to WA? Maybe Bougy?
Im coming over in august for bci if this would help?
Thanks guys.
Meegs.

[Scott Roxburgh]

Ray your layers always seem to work-perhaps I missed it but can you point to me to a thread where you detail your technique?

This is one of Ray's tutorials HERE that has great step by step photos

Also Ray has a couple of great little books that detail his technique. I PM'd Ray to put in an order.

[thoglette]

I have wanted a hindsii for such a long time

I've not seen one in The West. And both my air layers on my Fortunella margarita (or Citrus margarita or Nagami) failed this year.

[thoglette]

Last year Ray Nesci asked if I would have a go at layering a couple of his Cumquat trees. I put 9 layers on.

Ray - about when last year did you put these on and what clues drove your decision on "when?"

[Ray M]

Nice one ray.

I got a small cumquat cutting from ray 2 years ago . I have found them to be very slow growing . I asume that's why you always see grafted ones with the ugly graft.

Hi Paul,
Yes mate they are very slow growing. If you try to grow from cuttings they will take a long time. I have added some photos with more detail.

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This species (Fortunella hindsii) is naturally slow growing. I also obtained one from Ray Nesci so have the same stock. Regarding your layers - well done! One suggestion to anyone working with this species is to keep removing the flowers to prevent fruit set while the tree is in training. I know of one very old tree (upwards of 40 years as bonsai) here in North Queensland that would be less than 30 cm high and carries a good hundred or more mini-kumquats every year! It is still only about 2 cm trunk diameter.

Hi Ash,
These trees grow fruit quite prolifically. The fruit that grew on the layers was amazing, especially considering the poor weather conditions they survived through.

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Ray - about when last year did you put these on and what clues drove your decision on "when?"

Hi thoglette,
These layers were placed on 2 November 2013. I would have preferred to do them a month earlier.

I hope this answers some of the questions.

Regards Ray

[Meegs]

Those fruit are soooo cute
I have read that these grow true to seed? Is this the case, or a furby?

I have emailed Ray Nesci and my mail has been bounced back, his website link seems to be a ...well..*ahem* ....unbonsai related.
Can someone please help this nooby mcnoobington get in contact with him? Would it be easier to just call?
I have imported unusual citrus into WA before, it just needs the right quarantine paperwork and to be bare rooted. Which citrus seem to take in their stride =)

Thankyou

[thoglette]

I have imported unusual citrus into WA before, it just needs the right quarantine paperwork

[Jason]

Those fruit are soooo cute
I have read that these grow true to seed? Is this the case, or a furby?

I have emailed Ray Nesci and my mail has been bounced back, his website link seems to be a ...well..*ahem* ....unbonsai related.
Can someone please help this nooby mcnoobington get in contact with him? Would it be easier to just call?
I have imported unusual citrus into WA before, it just needs the right quarantine paperwork and to be bare rooted. Which citrus seem to take in their stride =)

Thankyou

Add a '.au' in his web address The email on the site is sales@raynescibonsai.com, so might need a '.au' added as well

https://www.raynescibonsai.com.au/

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=17757&hilit=ray+nesci