AusBonsai

Hi folks,
I had the opportunity to air layer a Wisteria yesterday. A friend of mine is going to cut the tree back so she spoke to me about it and asked if I would like to come and have a look. The tree is at least 25 years old, so I jumped at the possibilities it might have. The tree has some very nice movement in all the branches so it would have been a real wast had it just been cut down. I put on seven layers. There was good sap flow, the bark came away very easily. The tree has very rich colour in the flowers and it gets a couple of flushes of flowers each year. You can see the remains of a few flowers.
Regards Ray

Wisteria flowering this late is unusual.

You layers should have roots next week
Ok the week after

Ken

kcpoole wrote:Wisteria flowering this late is unusual.

You layers should have roots next week
Ok the week after

Ken

Hi Ken,
I was quite surprised to see flowers still on the tree. The lady who owns the tree said she gives it a trim after the first flush of flowers and then she gets another lot of flower. It is going to be very interesting to see if I get flowers on the layers next year. By the way it could even be the week after that.

Regards Ray

Hi Folks,
An update on how the layers are going.
I purchased some new colanders last week and I'm in the process of making up some more mix. I will take the layers off next week and most probably put some more layers on. When these layers come off that will remove a substantial section of the tree on one side. I should be able to see where some more layers can go on.

Regards Ray

Thank you I have an old one and was thinking of airlayering, will give it a go.
Can I post this to facebook on Penjing Study Group?

Henny wrote:Thank you I have an old one and was thinking of airlayering, will give it a go.
Can I post this to facebook on Penjing Study Group?

Hi Henny,
Yes, that's fine by me. If it helps someone that's great.

Regards Ray

Thank you, it is a new page and all knowledge shared is good

Nice work Ray,
Looks like you should add Wisteria to your list of favourite species, you're about to be the proud owner of a few nice ones!
Congrats mate

Mine has some seeds so I have been waiting for them to ripen, but need to layer it also/ Waiting to see how it goes.

Ray here is the link to the facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/penjing/
or you can look up Penjing Study Group

Hi folks,
I removed four of the layers a few days ago. I will be going over there again this afternoon to put some more layers on the tree and see if any other layers can come off.
When I removed the layers they went straight into a tub of Seasol. This allowed the layers to saturate. I brought the trees home to pot them and remove some of the foliage.
The following are the trees planted and foliage reduced.
Regards Ray

can i ask what sort of soil you are using? are u buying it or making it?

MOGGINATOR wrote:can i ask what sort of soil you are using? are u buying it or making it?

Hi Mogginator,
I make my own mix. I use Ray Nesci's potting mix, Zeolite, Perlite and Orchid mix.
Ray Nesci's mix is basically:
1/3 Compost - This is made from composting HARDWOOD SAWDUST
1/3 Pine Bark Fines
1/3 Coarse Sand - from my observation the sand is quite coarse, 2-3mm

My normal mix would be 10kg Ray's mix + two heaped double handfuls of Zeolite, then mix that 50/50 with Perlite. Basic mix.
Figs and Pines: Basic mix, mixed 50/50 with a good Orchid mix like Yates Orchid Mix. Figs and Pines love a very open mix.

Regards Ray

thats cool im using the osmocote bonsai mix from bunnings i hope thats ok :S only a noob so trying to learn as much as i can as quick as i can

MOGGINATOR wrote:thats cool im using the osmocote bonsai mix from bunnings i hope thats ok :S only a noob so trying to learn as much as i can as quick as i can

Hi Mogginator,
There are many formulas for bonsai mix. We are all learners, (or should be), so keep on experimenting, reading and giving it a go.

Regards Ray