Peppercorn

[Hutch11]

Hi all,

I have a young Peppercorn tree (about 3-4 years old, 9ft) and am wanting to do an aerial or ground layer from it.. When is the best time to do so and can someone point me in the right direction on the best procedure?

Thankyou

[Jamie]

hi mate,

is the root spread any good? unless you are propagating for another one or if you want to create a better nebari is/would be the reasons for air layer/ground layer.

best bet is to do a ring bark, one and a half to two times the thickness of the trunk, put your hormone powder/paste/gel on than wrap some sphag moss around it and cover in plastic. the other option is to cut a hole in the bottom of a nursery can, split up the side then you attatch that to the tree and wire it on then fill with medium or sphag

there are ofcourse ideal times to do this so if you can wait until spring when the tree is activly growing you could have it done in 6-8 weeks.

ground layer is the same procedure except it is low on the trunk and you can cover it in soil. use something to hold the soil in too like the top third of a nursery can with a split to get it around the trees!

jamie

[Hutch11]

Hi Jamie,

Thanks for your reply. What do u mean by is the root spread any good. It is a 4 year old tree, and is about 9ft in height. Its growing in my front yard, so I am assuming it has very healthy and strong roots. I am wanting to take an aerial layer of one of its branches to eventually pot in a grow pot and train as bonsai.

The tree has many branches very close to the ground (2-3cm above ground level) therefore I was thinking a ground layer bight be beneficial.

[Jamie]

ok mate now i understand you want layer some of the branches, i would go with the air layer because with the ground layer even though they are close to the ground will most likely grow roots up and down the branch like a raft, an air layer will give you a nice radial root spread

i asked what the root spread of the tree was like as i thought you were thinking of diggin it up

Jamie

[Crowie]

Has anyone here tried an air layer on a peppercorn and if so up to what diameter is successful?
There are a few locally I have wanted to try but not sure how large is possible.

[Hutch11]

Thanks Jamie,

I didnt explain myself properly the first time... I will wait a bit and then give the aerial layer a crack! its my first ever attempt at it so fingers crossed!!

Thanks again mate.

[Jamie]

no probs mate pleasure to help!

yea waiting till things warm up some is best, being a peppercorn i cant see it taking to long either. it is a good choice for a first layer, once you start doing them you get a little layer happy and you will end up having them on all your trees

keep us updated when ya do it

jamie

[Hutch11]

haha, I can feel the layering bug catching on, if this works, my nest will be a silver birch!

[Jamie]

Has anyone here tried an air layer on a peppercorn and if so up to what diameter is successful?
There are a few locally I have wanted to try but not sure how large is possible.

hi mate, depending on species some trees can have large layers taken successfully. sometimes over 100mm. im sure it could be done bigger if you can ring bark enough so it doesnt try and heal itself. figs would be one that could get rather large layers off. i havent tried peppercorn but i cant see why not, if they strike easy as cuttings you can generally say it will layer easy.

Jamie