first air layer

[baturb]

just thought I would share the results from my first ever attemp at air layering, not sure on the species of tree but it is very healthy and growing in the back yard around 5mts tall, being my first attempt I thought I would try it on this tree as if I killed the branch I wouldnt be to concerned, so I got a razor blade and ring barked the branch, 1 1/2 times the diameter long and scraped down to the hard wood, I made small cuts around the bark on the top bark and slightly flared the bark a little, then wraped the cut with sphagnum moss extending the moss above and below the cut, then wrapped the whole ball with black plastic and wired it around the branch, I would take the top wire off and water once a week keeping the ball moist, today when I was looking at it I couls see roots emerging from the plastic so I unwraped the plastic and found some nice roots had formed, this now gives me confidence to try it on other trees

[bodhidharma]

Well done Baturb, give it some good aftercare. It is exciting when you get something right isnt it.

[kcpoole]

good effort
Now whack it in a pot to let it grow on now
Ken

[baturb]

going in not really knowing what I was doing and to have a great result, it has now given me the confidence to layer more trees, reading about the subject and then to do it and have success is a great feeling

[Greth]

Congratulations, Im pretty much at your stage myself, I think I could cut my first one any day now, but Im leaving it until a day of supreme confidence, or maybe next Thursday, depends what comes first.
Not intending to take the wind out of your sails, you have done well and should rejoice. I will dance with you if you can stand my shuffles.
Airlayering seems such a complex technique when you read about it, actually when you try the plants respond beautifully and do just what the books or internet mentors said they would. And now you can proudly stand on the podium of airlayer experts. Shove along a bit, I will be there on Thursday.

[baturb]

thanks Greth, as I said it was an experiment and I wasnt too worried if I faied with this one, but it feels good to have got it right, when I saw the roots poking out of the wraping I just went for the chop and potted it up, as you can see in the first pic

[baturb]

just for those interested here is the tree the layered branch came from (not sure of the type so if anyone has an idea?)

[kvan64]

Very weldone. I know the feeling of success is good. If you keep doing this, you'll have heaps of trees in the future. Next time just pick for some good species and interesting branches with nice movements to airlayer.
As to this one, if the top pic is the layered tree, I would lose some folliage. The roots are good but too much folliage will cause a lot of water loss through respiration that maybe at a faster rate than root absorption. Besides, prunning of the folliage would encourage ramification.
Cheers,
DK

[Greth]

It is hard to put your experiments and your dreams online, so often they get beaten to pulp by people who dont really know you at all.
Only a few of the people who respond will be positive. Pfft to that, there are 6 billion people in the world, only a handful will ever be your friends, the rest can jump in a lake. For some it would be better if they never came up for breath.

You have done well with your first airlayer.

[Joel]

Looks like a variegated Metrosideros excelsa, New Zealand Christmas tree. Your section has reverted back. Does it have any redish aerial roots? Has it flowered? Should have large red pom pom like flowers.

Joel

[baturb]

no aerial roots and it has never flowered that I have seen, the layer I took off has green leaves and as you can see in the pic of the big tree there is a branch of green but the rest is the yellow colour, the tree I would estimate it at around 30 odd yrs old

[Amanda]

Congrats Baturb, now enjoy and go get 'em

[Tenka]

Great, I've been waiting for some of the trees i like to get some leaves again so I can try this out. Looks like it's worked perfectly for you, first attempt too.