Has anyone airlayered Blue Atlas Cedar?

[Mojo Moyogi]

I have just discovered a large Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' in a secluded part of the farm and it has great needle colour, short needles and a short internodes, making it an ideal candidate for shohin. I have had a few conversations with a leading nurseryman that specialises in conifers and he has told me more than once not to waste my time with cuttings, but perhaps airlayers would be possible. I don't want to graft, I don't wish to wait 20+ years for a graft union to blend in with the trunk above.

Has anyone had any success layering this species? I would like to hear from anyone that can share anything regarding methods, timing and expected time to develop roots. I would especially like to hear from The Hacker, he recently wrote a thread about The Joe Micallef Cedar Collection, perhaps he knows if Joe was able to layer Blue Cedars.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Matthew]

Dont know mate but if someone says yes and you try it, you better do one or two for me

[Redmondz]

I would like to know as I have one starring at me every day, I love the colour of them and if the answer is positive I will have to add it to my layer list this spring haha

[Paulneill]

I was searching for the answer to this question today
And want I came up with was that they are like junipers and are slow to layer
Some suggested to use the tornique method
But I would just do the normal ring bark method
So you might have to wait more than a year for very large layers over 2 inches.

[Mojo Moyogi]

Dont know mate but if someone says yes and you try it, you better do one or two for me

No problem mate, trade you for Premna and Willow Leaf Fig layers .

Cheers,
Mojo

[Mojo Moyogi]

I was searching for the answer to this question today
And want I came up with was that they are like junipers and are slow to layer
Some suggested to use the tornique method
But I would just do the normal ring bark method
So you might have to wait more than a year for very large layers over 2 inches.

Thanks for the info Paul, size wise I would like to do pencil thick and upwards, the smaller ones would be grown in a seed tray for a couple of years to get the roots striking out horizontally, then into the field for 3-5 years. What would happen with the larger layers if I could get roots on them will depend on movement and taper.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Matthew]

deal

[Hackimoto]

My slant on the topic is, If it can be grown from cutting then it can be grown more easily using layering of whatever method. Having said that, I know of a bonsai friend who managed to grow Japanese Black Pine from cutting, something that no one would have thought possible. I have never heard of the true cedars being propagated from cuttings as they are usually done from seed or grafting onto a more hardy seedling cedar (Deodar or Lebanon) My experience and guess would be that you would be wasting your time but please prove me wrong and have a go.

[Mojo Moyogi]

My slant on the topic is, If it can be grown from cutting then it can be grown more easily using layering of whatever method. Having said that, I know of a bonsai friend who managed to grow Japanese Black Pine from cutting, something that no one would have thought possible. I have never heard of the true cedars being propagated from cuttings as they are usually done from seed or grafting onto a more hardy seedling cedar (Deodar or Lebanon) My experience and guess would be that you would be wasting your time but please prove me wrong and have a go.

Hi Hackimoto, I am planning on giving it a go regardless of how difficult or easy people say it is, for me, the possible result makes it worth the effort. I hope that I have similar success with Blue Atlas Cedar layers as I do with JBP from cuttings. I have rooted poorly prepared JBP and Yatsabusa JBPs (way too many needles left on the cuttings) without bottom heat using my fogging tunnel and my old cutting tray with balance arm misting and still managed to achieve about a 40% strikerate.

So the question still stands "Has anyone airlayered Blue Atlas Cedar?"

Cheers,
Mojo

[Hackimoto]

With the successes you've had with some of those other difficult species, then you stand a better chance than most at being able to achieve it. Keep us posted.

[Mojo Moyogi]

Will do.

Cheers,
Mojo

[MattA]

Hey Mojo,

I grew up looking at a blue atlas cedar & tried layering a few branches in my early days of bonsai. The tourniquet method is not effective as they thicken so slowly, after 2yrs it still hadnt cut in enough to redirect energy into root. Full ringbarking was also ineffective, the branch slowly died back to the cut. I did have partial success with the bridge method. I would set the layer on a part of the tree that gets the maximum amount of sun (for warmth) and allow up to 2yrs for a decent set of roots to form.

Matt

[jamesocallaghan]

Hi, I have a large weeping Atlantic cedar beside my pond and tried air-layer last year late winter early spring in 2 spots, 1 completely died at the start of this spring the following year! and the other is still going, with checking clear plastic every couple of weeks, "no roots" I have replaced the plastic and painted hormone again. bonsai is teaching me patience. I have tried again a few weeks ago on another spot with stronger hormone (Purple) will keep you posted. I also had taken cutting last year same time and struck 3 from 15 odd cuttings, they also took a long time to root , can anyone tell me if air layering should take more than a growing season to produce roots?