Air layer - finding the prebonsai within?

[ADO]

Hi.
My mother-in-law has a very large and healthy ficus which has many thick branches and is about 8ft high. it has multiple trunks and has invaded a good part of their back yard!
Anyway, I want to do an air layer whilst its is still hot and maybe get something that might be a good pre-bonsai. the thing is, i havent done a layer before so I don't know what to look for when setting an air layer - i.e. what kind of branch structure should I be looking for? i assume that you layer as close to the foliage/smaller branches as possible?
in any case, I am getting some cuttings from this tree too.
thank you in advance

[shibui]

Ado You can layer close to leaves if there's something there or if you want to spend time after growing the trunk to the finished size but I look for a suitable trunk - something with thickness and taper or something where the rest of the branch can be pruned back to give a suitable trunk and shoots will develop. Look for spots where the branch forks several times close together.
Then you have choices -
1. prune the rest of the branch and wait for it to start to shoot before putting the layer on. That way it grows new shoots closer to the proposed roots and grows roots at the same time
or 2. layer the branch, get roots and reestablish the new tree then cut it back to get the new shoots.
note that layers will grow roots quicker when the branch has plenty of healthy foliage on it.
Although we can speed things up a bit there's no such thing as instant bonsai so please have patience.

[Paulneill]

I have been doing some thinking on this subject of removing layers .surely a layer with plenty of roots but with all foliage removed could easily bounce back if severed in early spring. Depending on species of course. Or could the layer be cut back late winter and then removed after growth has formed. I have a few large layers and removing them with the foliage on just is not going to be practicle due to the size of them And the distance between foliage and layer.

[anttal63]

fig in perth this time of the year i would partially defoliate the section, saw it off, soak in water for a week in the shade, then plant into an open mix (diatamite or pumice) water morn and night if needed morning sun only. Give it a month it will be on fire !!!

[shibui]

I thought the same Ant.
Figs strike so easily that it would be easier to take large cuttings. After seeing that one that Ken struck (and grafted at the same time) with no leaves it would probably be ok to saw off the branches, cut them back to the shape and size of proposed trunk then strike that.

Paul I agree that with plenty of roots you should be able to cut back your layers and get good shoots but trying to do both things at once might be stretching the tree's resources (except maybe with figs?) however it is always worth experimenting and you can let us know what the result is.
I also have the feeling that once roots are started they do seem to keep growing so you could try cutting back one of your layers while its on the tree and see how that affects the root development.

[ADO]

thanks so much for the advice.

So in essence, at this time of the year I can take large cuttings? that would suit me better as it means I wouldnt have to go over to the in-laws to check on the layer
is there a size limit as some of these branches are over 3 in thick.

I could go nuts because it is such a huge tree.
thanks for the help again.

Adrian

[Paulneill]

i used to think why bother layer when u can take cuttings on figs . a cutting will strike but wont grow nearly as well as a layer will , if u use a good amount of moss and wrap in glad wrap it prob only need watered once and could be removed in 6 to eight week and be thriving a lot more than any cutting

[ADO]

Thanks Paul.
what I might do is get some good sized cuttings and set a layer or two as well and see how they both turn out.

[Paulneill]

hay ado why not strike a heap of thin straight finger size and smaller cuttings.then next summer when they are thriving wrap them all together so they all join and create a nice trunk to work from,