AusBonsai

Just out checking on the moss when I spotted a few roots!!!
Few shooting, at about an inch long. One even going up under the electrical tape, defying gravity.

Usual collage below for those following along ...
Most leaves above the layer have gone, few remain looking OK. New growth beneath the layer with new shoots.

- Daniel

Another quick update, new leaves shooting above the layer!!!

Roots, roots and more roots! Just went to replace the alfoil, and noticed all these wonderful roots!!! Took a closer view of the front, highlighted below.
Hoping this means I can separate and plant the top half in winter!

- Daniel

GOTTA KEEP IT SEPARATED!!!

Found a few resoucres stating no need to wait until winter to separate an air layer, and as the roots were starting to look "bag bound" ... yesterday was the day!! (Also, in super hot summers it's recommended apparently to remove earlier rather than later, to avoid cooking the roots, though with this Summer being so damp and cool, not such a concern I don't think).

Had my assistants help with soaking it, picking out the moss from the roots, sealing both the host tree and new layer, packing in new soil, watering, tying it down ... and taking photos and videos of the whole process (ofcourse).

BONUS: Two photo collages, as we now have two (larger format) maples!!!
- Daniel

COME OUT & PLAY!!
Nice job, plenty of roots ... if it was mine (in my environment) I wouldn't have hesitated to separate as I don't think you would gain anything by waiting.
I know repotting of maples is generally done towards the end of winter for most, but removing a layer isn't really like repotting. In my head it's more akin to a "slip" pot scenario as your goal is to preserve all the root matter you have created and get it into a pot. Chopping back the roots and looking to reduce the size of the root ball isn't a primary goal.
Good work - I think they'll be fine.

My experience is not that the roots 'cook' in summer. All my failures have been because the moss dried out and the new roots died. As the new roots grow they begin taking water and nutrients for the layer. Hot weather and more leaves means they need more water and the only access they have is in the bag. Obviously the water there is soon gone and death follows.
You have definitely done the right thing. Just keep the water up to it and make sure it does not get too hot for a while. The leafy growth will really drive lots of root growth. A few leaves may fall if the roots can't keep up yet but it will almost certainly survive.

Thanks for the reassurances!

My daughters were a little disappointed, as they cannot climb it now. Although, with strong enough pots, might be able to hang a hammock between these two one day?! Hahaha

Forgot one of the most important things when posting pics ... to add the universal reference object for scale, pic from yesterday (two weeks on and new tree now on wheels for pain-free movement of pot):

legoman_iac wrote: ↑February 28th, 2022, 8:35 am Forgot one of the most important things when posting pics ... to add the universal reference object for scale, pic from yesterday

I'm finding it hard to focus on your universal reference object

Just repotted the air layer ... I had put a sheet of plastic to stop the roots going too deep, think it blocked them, and kept the root system shallow, yay! Although my pot leaves room for improvement, as we had to improvise as I wanted it out of that deep grow pot ... making a new genra, rebranding bonsai as "boxsai". Got 1-2 rainy days before it falls apart I think!

A design I've been working on for a few weeks, since the introduction of my "boxsai" ... I managed to "build it" over the weekend. Designed to be what I first thought a "grow pot" was ... which will help me to grow a shallow root system. It starts as a "deep pot" then every few years/repots, as I trim the roots shallower, the pot can become shorter (aka remove a layer of panels), to eventually get it in a shallow ceramic pot!

Did use nails/screws for the base ... am not skilled enough in the ways of the timber to have a base, with wheels, without them.

Looks like it will achieve the desired result, function over form suits in this application, well done.

Multi-update ...

- noticed a few months back that the bottom of "Bathee's Pot" had rotted, so braced with planks until repot time
- over the weekend I went to put a new base under only to discover the entire pot had rotted, held together by paint!

(seems the roots went into the paint after 3 years without a repot, then moisture got in)

- did an emergency, very un-elegant, pot build with spare wood lying about (took the top planks from her neighbour's modular pot)
- quick re-pot, slight root trimming yesterday
- noticed it's way too shallow for what I'm comfy with, so added some panels front and back, to cover the roots

Next step will be to try a "ground layer" come end of Spring.

Pics below:

That’s coming along nicely. A question on your air layer, were you pouring water into that air layer in the initial days?

Akhi wrote: ↑July 30th, 2024, 6:50 am That’s coming along nicely. A question on your air layer, were you pouring water into that air layer in the initial days?

From memory, just had damp moss.