AusBonsai

So, after taking all advice given, I re-worked the bottom air layer on this elm. Then I had a look at the top layer...


And I decided to "take a punt"... I cut it off and potted it ... Using the old CD method I discovered on this forum.



This is what is left of the original tree...


If I have done the wrong thing, well so be it. As sad as it is to lose a tree, I felt I need to try and experiment with something new.

Hi Raymond,
Let me be the first to congratulate you. You have tried something different, and that is how we learn. Give the new tree a drink of Seasol at least once a week. Being an Elm I suspect it will come good.

Regards Ray

Raymond, I would expect a touch more die back of foliage, but DO as Ray M has suggested and water once or twice a week with Seasol.... it wont be taking up a huge amount of water right now and Overwatering will be more harmful than underwatering. I would keep it out of full sun and wind.....and put it somewhere protected that gets filtered sunlight for a few weeks until you see some recovery. I would also tie it into the pot securely so there is no movement which may damage the few fragile roots you have. Good luck mate

Things are NOT looking good! Both trees look dead, but I had a look at the layer last night and it has roots packed in to the ball of moss, which is supposed to be good.

Raymond wrote:Things are NOT looking good! Both trees look dead, but I had a look at the layer last night and it has roots packed in to the ball of moss, which is supposed to be good.

Hi Raymond,
If there were lots of roots in the layer ball I suspect it has been allowed to dry out. This is an assumption as I don't know all the facts. Could you give us some more information.

Regards Ray

There weren't many new roots on the removed layer and exposing them to the Air for too long while looking at it may have damaged them , They may have died back especially in Novemaber . The original tree may well still be alive, just hasn't been able to reshoot yet.

Ray M wrote:

Raymond wrote:Things are NOT looking good! Both trees look dead, but I had a look at the layer last night and it has roots packed in to the ball of moss, which is supposed to be good.

Hi Raymond,
If there were lots of roots in the layer ball I suspect it has been allowed to dry out. This is an assumption as I don't know all the facts. Could you give us some more information.

Regards Ray

Hi Ray M, the air layer looks really good this time. Still has condensation in the plastic, I used a syringe and put Seasol into it like you said. The tree however looks dead. The branches are dried right out and it has no foliage whatsoever. The cambium below the layer is still green... As for the layer that I punted on, well that little thing looks dead also. I will check the cambium on that one and take a couple of pics after work. Thanks for the reply mate, really appreciate it.

Hi Ray M, the air layer looks really good this time. Still has condensation in the plastic, I used a syringe and put Seasol into it like you said. The tree however looks dead. The branches are dried right out and it has no foliage whatsoever. The cambium below the layer is still green... As for the layer that I punted on, well that little thing looks dead also. I will check the cambium on that one and take a couple of pics after work. Thanks for the reply mate, really appreciate it.

Hi Raymond,
Your reply has got me thinking. You say The cambium below the layer is still green.... Are you saying that you can see exposed cambium below the layer? A photo will certainly be a great help. After you are able to post a photo this may help to determine a number of factors relating to this layer.

Regards Ray

Ray M wrote:

Hi Ray M, the air layer looks really good this time. Still has condensation in the plastic, I used a syringe and put Seasol into it like you said. The tree however looks dead. The branches are dried right out and it has no foliage whatsoever. The cambium below the layer is still green... As for the layer that I punted on, well that little thing looks dead also. I will check the cambium on that one and take a couple of pics after work. Thanks for the reply mate, really appreciate it.

Hi Raymond,
Your reply has got me thinking. You say The cambium below the layer is still green.... Are you saying that you can see exposed cambium below the layer? A photo will certainly be a great help. After you are able to post a photo this may help to determine a number of factors relating to this layer.

Regards Ray

If I scratch the bark on the remaining trunk, the cambium is still green. Time restrains have effected my ability to post a pic of this today.

Hi Ray M, the air layer looks really good this time. Still has condensation in the plastic, I used a syringe and put Seasol into it like you said. The tree however looks dead. The branches are dried right out and it has no foliage whatsoever. The cambium below the layer is still green... As for the layer that I punted on, well that little thing looks dead also. I will check the cambium on that one and take a couple of pics after work. Thanks for the reply mate, really appreciate it.

Hi Raymond,
Mate, I appreciate the work restraints. Just post a couple of photos when you can.

A couple of questions. Have you kept up the water to the host tree? Have you fertilized the host tree?

Regards Ray

Ray M wrote:

Hi Ray M, the air layer looks really good this time. Still has condensation in the plastic, I used a syringe and put Seasol into it like you said. The tree however looks dead. The branches are dried right out and it has no foliage whatsoever. The cambium below the layer is still green... As for the layer that I punted on, well that little thing looks dead also. I will check the cambium on that one and take a couple of pics after work. Thanks for the reply mate, really appreciate it.

Hi Raymond,
Mate, I appreciate the work restraints. Just post a couple of photos when you can.

A couple of questions. Have you kept up the water to the host tree? Have you fertilized the host tree?

Regards Ray

Yes and yes. Water like the rest of my collection, once a day. Seasol/Powerfeed every second weekend. 15ml Seasol/15ml Powerfeed in 9 litres of water. I have found that ratio is good enough to maintain healthy trees and vegies. If you remember when I first joined this awesome forum, I was a little bit heavy handed when it came to Seasol ratios...

Raymond wrote:

Ray M wrote:

Hi Ray M, the air layer looks really good this time. Still has condensation in the plastic, I used a syringe and put Seasol into it like you said. The tree however looks dead. The branches are dried right out and it has no foliage whatsoever. The cambium below the layer is still green... As for the layer that I punted on, well that little thing looks dead also. I will check the cambium on that one and take a couple of pics after work. Thanks for the reply mate, really appreciate it.

Hi Raymond,
Mate, I appreciate the work restraints. Just post a couple of photos when you can.

A couple of questions. Have you kept up the water to the host tree? Have you fertilized the host tree?

Regards Ray

Yes and yes. Water like the rest of my collection, once a day. Seasol/Powerfeed every second weekend. 15ml Seasol/15ml Powerfeed in 9 litres of water. I have found that ratio is good enough to maintain healthy trees and vegies. If you remember when I first joined this awesome forum, I was a little bit heavy handed when it came to Seasol ratios...

Hi Raymond,
Good on you mate.

They love to be fertilized. I feed mine with Seamungus and Dolomite Lime. The Seamungus is in pellet form. The Dolomite Lime is a powder. After placing some Seamungus on the soil I sprinkle some Dolomite Lime on top. This needs to be watered through the soil. Don't leave it sitting on the soil, water it through immediately after applying to the surface.

The following are links to WEB sites, to have a look at the makeup of these two products.
http://www.neutrog.com.au/seamungus-2/
http://www.richgro.com.au/products/fert ... omite-5kg/

Regards Ray

Green cambium on host trunk below air layer site

Hi Raymond,
It's good to see green on the trunk. Give it a drink of Seasol at least twice a week and see if it will through out some new shoots on the host tree.

I'm concerned at how the layer looks. Could you do a check on the trunk and branches to see if there is any green showing.

Regards Ray

Ray M wrote:Hi Raymond,
It's good to see green on the trunk. Give it a drink of Seasol at least twice a week and see if it will through out some new shoots on the host tree.

I'm concerned at how the layer looks. Could you do a check on the trunk and branches to see if there is any green showing.

Regards Ray

Me Too . Yeah the branches look really dry