Several years ago I tried to air layer a tall cork oak. I ring barked the trunk, and after 2 years the cut had healed over. Last year I repeated the exercise, this time tying a piece of wire around the top of the ring barked section. This time the airlayer worked, with good roots along one side of the cut. The air layer pot is a 30 cm orchid pot. I had sprays on the air layer pot and the parent tree's pot to keep both growing.
Here are the pictures.
The branches with leaves coming out of the air layer pot are from below the air layer cut.
I exposed the cambium on the side with no roots and applied rooting hormone. If new roots don't grow I will do a root graft next season.
I plan to hollow out the trunk on the bottom (parent) tree and keep the left hand leader.
I may use this, or seedlings for root grafts.
Cork Oak air layer
- jarryd
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 426
- Joined: December 7th, 2008, 8:00 pm
- Favorite Species: Tasmanian Natives
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Bonsai Club: Bonsai Society of Southern Tasmania
- Location: Collinsvale Tasmania
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
- Contact:
Re: Cork Oak air layer
Nice work Steve. Fingers crossed for you the other side sprouts roots
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/montanebonsai/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Blog http://www.montanebonsai.wordpress.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Blog http://www.montanebonsai.wordpress.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- SteveW
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 277
- Joined: February 5th, 2009, 4:54 pm
- Favorite Species: maples, cork oaks
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Bonsai Club: Wauchope
- Has thanked: 13 times
- Been thanked: 7 times
Re: Cork Oak air layer
Thx Jarryd.
Yes, i hope it roots. If not, it gives me a use for the seedlings i have as root grafts.
Yes, i hope it roots. If not, it gives me a use for the seedlings i have as root grafts.
- Jarad
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Perth, WA
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Re: Cork Oak air layer
Glad to hear you've finally had some success! you can get some roots on the other side.
Look at the bark on the trunk too!
Look at the bark on the trunk too!
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
-
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 587
- Joined: April 14th, 2016, 2:05 pm
- Favorite Species: all
- Bonsai Age: 3
- Bonsai Club: grow chop snip
- Location: Taree
- Has thanked: 34 times
- Been thanked: 6 times
Re: Cork Oak air layer
what do you put down as being the cause of only one side growing roots? was it the sunny side? was the unrooted side the first/last section to heal over from the first attempt? I'm assuming the air layer was done at the same location
why did you tourniquet the already ring barked trunk? it just seems to me that the cambium wasn't completely removed the first attempt and tourniqueting the top would suit no purpose as the flow from leaves to roots has been severed. Interested in your thoughts
regards
Max
why did you tourniquet the already ring barked trunk? it just seems to me that the cambium wasn't completely removed the first attempt and tourniqueting the top would suit no purpose as the flow from leaves to roots has been severed. Interested in your thoughts
regards
Max
- Jarad
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 1232
- Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
- Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Perth, WA
- Has thanked: 22 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Re: Cork Oak air layer
He mentioned that the area that he ring barked the first time completely healed over. This time when he ring barked it, he wrapped wire around the heartwood that butted up against the cambium. It acts as a barrier so the callous grows away from the trunk instead of down it. I'll see if I can find an example photo.no idea wrote: why did you tourniquet the already ring barked trunk? it just seems to me that the cambium wasn't completely removed the first attempt and tourniqueting the top would suit no purpose as the flow from leaves to roots has been severed. Interested in your thoughts
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
- SteveW
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 277
- Joined: February 5th, 2009, 4:54 pm
- Favorite Species: maples, cork oaks
- Bonsai Age: 15
- Bonsai Club: Wauchope
- Has thanked: 13 times
- Been thanked: 7 times
Re: Cork Oak air layer
Jarad's reply answers the question about using a torniquet.
Re No Idea's question, I have no idea why one side grew roots. After 1 failed attempt and several yearsof trying, 50% success rate is fine.
Re No Idea's question, I have no idea why one side grew roots. After 1 failed attempt and several yearsof trying, 50% success rate is fine.