To Layer, or Not to Layer

[Beano]

Thanks bougie and ray.

It's got foil over it, but it's not "light tight". I'll get a better new piece of foil tomorrow. I think my sphagnum ball is too small too

[Shane Martin]

don't forget to apply the rooting hormone powder or gel!

Hi Shane,
Thanks for mentioning that. You will notice in the photo that I use two hormones. Richgro Root Strike Hardwood and Clonex Purple. Mix these two in equal parts before applying.

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Regards Ray

Ray,
why do you use both root promoters? I'm curious as all. Might give it a go. I have had only minimal success with air layers. Japanese Maple no problems at all, but had 3 attempts at the "oh so easy" chinese elm. Just kept callousing over and had to re cut the area twice. The third ime I used a method by Boon in the US, where he uses knob cutters to naw away at the site...looks like a beaver has been chewing away at it, but it finally worked for me, and got me this result.... Happy now!

Chinese Elm Lge cutting plan-Mar2012.jpg

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[Ray M]

Ray,
why do you use both root promoters? This came about when I was told about how difficult Trident maples can be. I did a lot of experimenting and found that the use of these hormones, soaking the sphagnum in Seasol and using the wire made it possible to get very good results with Trident's. I'm curious as all. Might give it a go. I have had only minimal success with air layers. Japanese Maple no problems at all, but had 3 attempts at the "oh so easy" Chinese elm. Just kept callousing over and had to re cut the area twice. If it is a smoth bark Chinese Elm I use the same method as used with Trident maples. Make sure you make your cuts to create the layer about one and a half time the diameter of the trunk. Scrap the cambium until you are sure you are all the way down to the hard wood. The third time I used a method by Boon in the US, where he uses knob cutters to naw away at the site...looks like a beaver has been chewing away at it, but it finally worked for me, and got me this result.... Happy now!

Hi Shane,
I have answered your questions in red.

Regards Ray

[Ray M]

Thanks bougie and ray.

It's got foil over it, but it's not "light tight". I'll get a better new piece of foil tomorrow. I think my sphagnum ball is too small too

Hi Beano,
Mate don't skimp on the sphagnum. If you look at the photos above you will see that I am very generous with the amount of sphagnum used. It has two benefits. It gives the roots plenty of room to grow into and more moisture for the layer to live on. When you wrap the layer use a doubled piece of foil.

Regards Ray

[Raymond]

So I followed Ray M's instructions to the letter...

First one...

Ready for alfoil...

Both layers completed...
Now lets see what happens...

[Ray M]

So I followed Ray M's instructions to the letter...

First one...

Ready for alfoil...

Both layers completed...
Now lets see what happens...

Hi Raymond,
That looks very good mate. With this weather I think you will see roots showing within a month or month and a half. It looks like you have done a good job in removing all the cambium.

A couple of questions.
1/ Did you soak the sphagnum in Seasol?
2/ Did you use the two hormones?
3/ Did you use the wire?

Regards Ray

[Raymond]

Sphagnum was soaked.
2 rooting hormones mixed as per your instructions
Wire only on the bottom layer. (get ahead of myself and forgot on the top one )

[Ray M]

Sphagnum was soaked.
2 rooting hormones mixed as per your instructions
Wire only on the bottom layer. (get ahead of myself and forgot on the top one )

Hi Raymond,
Ah well, that will be a good experiment to see if there is any difference with the species.

Please keep us updated as things progress.

Regards Ray

[Beano]

Had another look at mine this weekend, the rootless side was dry!!! It's on an angle but its the lower side. I opened it for a gentle look, managed not to break anything and there were some short root stubs starting to come out of the slow side. There was some callousing over going on so I recut those bits and actually soaked the sphagnum in seasol for 2 hours then chucked it all back on. Foiled up again and I'll be checking to make sure it doesn't dry out. It's a way bigger ball of moss this time.

[Ray M]

Had another look at mine this weekend, the rootless side was dry!!! It's on an angle but its the lower side. I opened it for a gentle look, managed not to break anything and there were some short root stubs starting to come out of the slow side. There was some callousing over going on so I recut those bits and actually soaked the sphagnum in seasol for 2 hours then chucked it all back on. Foiled up again and I'll be checking to make sure it doesn't dry out. It's a way bigger ball of moss this time.

Hi Beano,
That sounds good what you have done. You will find the Seasol a great help and having a larger ball around the layer is a great advantage.

If you think a layer is getting a little dry, mix up some Seasol and inject it into the layer. Inject from the top and allow the moisture to soak down into the layer.

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Regards Ray

[thoglette]

If you think a layer is getting a little dry, mix up some Seasol and inject it into the layer. Inject from the top and allow the moisture to soak down into the layer.

I have a large eyedropper which I find quite useful for watering layers - I tend to leave the top a little loose to catch the dew, if we should have some.

[Beano]

It dried out again! Not fully but I'm glad I checked every 2nd daily. I had topped it up once last weekend. There's roots on the dry side now, not as many as the other side still, but there are a decent amount. There is less moss on the less rooted side, I think because of the trunk angle, gravity tends to pull the moss and moisture downwards toward the heavily rooted side. I'd tilt the grow box but its sharing it with another tree...

[Raymond]

2 weeks tomorrow, and I haven't checked mine yet. It has raind nearly everyday since I did the layer so not too concerned abut mine drying out... Should I check?

[Beano]

Probably be ok if its been raining. Did you soak the moss in seasol? It seems to make it darker when its wet, so you'll know if its dry, it looks paler and its not as squishy. Don't squish too hard though, don't want to break any roots.

[Ray M]

2 weeks tomorrow, and I haven't checked mine yet. It has raind nearly everyday since I did the layer so not too concerned abut mine drying out... Should I check?

Hi Raymond,
If you sealed the layer well it should survive a couple of months. I rarely have to replace any moisture in mine if the layer is a two month project. When I was layering the Black Pines, which was a 5 month project I think I only added the water and Seasol mixture one more time after the initial layering. That said, it is always a good idea to lift the foil off occasionally and check how things are going.

Probably be ok if its been raining. Did you soak the moss in seasol? It seems to make it darker when its wet, so you'll know if its dry, it looks paler and its not as squishy. Don't squish too hard though, don't want to break any roots.

Raymond,
Beano is right about the color. The moss will tend to go a paler colour. Another guide to look for is condensation. If there is sufficient moisture in the layer you will tend to see moisture inside the plastic.

Regards Ray