AusBonsai

OK, so far so good. After puncturing the bottom of the plastic wrap most of the excess moisture has drained (can only see tiny little droplets on the plastic) and there is no visible stress on the donor plant.

Just to clarify - I'm in Port Hedland, warmth is not lacking here! So I won't be using black plastic as a cover because I'll be trying not to cook the new roots (should they grace me with their presence); It MAY be necessary in colder climates but you'll have to run your own experiment. I am, however, considering al-foil as a heat reflective ... the ambient temps here are currently in the mid to high 30s and this particular tree is only getting morning sun (till about 10:30-11ish).

Thank you for your suggestions, especially the link, Luke 308. They look like a great idea and I have also seen another version that look just like a Black bubble that clamp on in a similar way. The process is the same, plastic bag, old pots or these specialised cloning systems... As I am practicing this, i'll keep to the low cost version for now. There is plenty of posts here that show how you can do it with just an ordinary garden pot from a nursery so have a dig around... Next to growing your own seeds, this is a great deal of fun!

only 5 days in ...

11 days on and my first root! Visible root, that is...


Cheers
Elmar

I'm having very good success with the open colander technique in the photo. I had some failures inside the bags, but this way gives me roots every time. My thinking is a layer only needs two things to be successful... the right amount of moisture, and a good supply of oxygen.
This method supplies both in a close to natural way as possible. I pack a little bit of sphagnum tightly around the girdle, and fill it with bonsai soil and some chopped sphagnum moss mixed in with it.
The only drawback is it can only be used on a vertical branch.
What I especially like is when the layer comes off the roots are in soil and "hardened" already.

I see it Elmar... I SEE IT!! Congrats. I know from recent experience it is a satisfying feeling. May many more follow in this guy's footsteps. Well done!

Haha, thx Ryce! It is pretty special, I must agree!

Fredman, that's some big stone you've got but obviously worth a shot! I don't have many big airlayer opportunities, but will note this one for sure!


Cheers
Elmar

Ha Ha. On second thought I shouldn't have put that pic up. The stones are confusing. I put a few stones as a top layer to keep some moisture in. I keep it in full sun and water it everyday.... The real soil is down there

fredman wrote:Ha Ha. On second thought I shouldn't have put that pic up. The stones are confusing. I put a few stones as a top layer to keep some moisture in. I keep it in full sun and water it everyday.... The real soil is down there

Nah, good work, keep it up - I didn't start this until RayM gave me some hints after all his work. Now its for us to learn, get good at and expand!

With my Layer, I am getting a little concerned that the moss around the cut is not big enough to support a root-ball comparative in size to the foliage size!
So I'm going to leave the layer on as long as possible to ensure that a 'sufficient' sized rootball develops, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't reduce the canopy down somewhat ... Will do a "bigger" picture a little later today...

What is the general consensus on that?

Wow Elmar thats awesome & exciting - I'm following your airlayering record - thank you for sharing it all with us

Elmar wrote: I'm wondering if I shouldn't reduce the canopy down somewhat ...

Hey Elmar,

My understanding of layers was the more foliage you have up top the quicker the roots will form.

If you reduce foliage now it will only slow the process by reducing photosynthesis as well as the tree moving energy toward healing the cut.

I'd leave as much foliage on as possible then when its time to remove the layer you can reduce the foliage then.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

PS. Thanks to this post I did my first layer a few days after you posted this. Cheers for getting me motivated

Pearcy001 wrote:

Elmar wrote: I'm wondering if I shouldn't reduce the canopy down somewhat ...

If you reduce foliage now it will only slow the process by reducing photosynthesis as well as the tree moving energy toward healing the cut.

I'd leave as much foliage on as possible then when its time to remove the layer you can reduce the foliage then.

Agree with that. Leave the canopy until you are ready to remove the layer, then maybe reduce just before you do the final chop. That way (as Pearcy says) you get maximum benefit from the foliage for you new roots.

Don't second guess yourself too much, the fact the roots are visible means the process is under way, I know Ray M would say... "Patience is the key", and he's right.

Elmar wrote:11 days on and my first root! Visible root, that is...

Technically you have 3 visible roots... I understand you have 2 children...

Nice work mate!

"Patience"!?!?! I'm not growing Patience ...

Thank you, I'm finding my 'theoretical' knowledge is interfering with my practical application ... so now that you've mentioned it, it makes perfect sense to wait until removal! Silly I know, but I became concerned when I realised it was growing out of control (to my mind anyway) ... So used to trees dying that this behaviour is quite new to me ...




Anyhoo, wait until the sphagnum moss is popping with roots, then I plan on opening the bag and attaching a 100ml (or mm) pot with additional soil and will try to, ever-so-gently, push it up to show the cut bark of the branch below the airlayer. so it'll continue to grow into a pot straight up, give it more time then cut it from the main tree... in theory, that would be more beneficial to the tree as there would be less root disturbance once separated and it has to stand on its own root (so to speak).

Jarad wrote:

Elmar wrote:11 days on and my first root! Visible root, that is...

Technically you have 3 visible roots... I understand you have 2 children...

Nice work mate!

Thx mate, about time I have some success, outside of my family!!

Wow, check out the growth: 14 days...


Cheers
Elmar

You will be taking the layer off before you know it at this rate!

Wow that's some really impressive stuff! I went out and re-did some airlayers I put on about 3 weeks ago. I ringbarked the carmbium and removed the bark/cambium layer, but I didn't at all cut into the heartwood, so I went out and did that today just in-case, as I heard it can lead to higher failure rates if there's some cambium cells left behind.

I whittled away the the heart wood some, and there's some callousing and maybe the very start of some root tips poking out, but nothing at all like what you have here. Very envious of your progress thus far!