Long airial on fig

[bonsaiboy50]

After about one and a half years I have finally encouraged the longest airial root i have produced to reach the soil . From branch to soil it is 500mm long. As with all my airials I place them either in a mound of soil or (in this case) in a tube to encourage them to root into the soil. The tube is actually a clean nozzle off a tube of silicon, cut in half then wired back together. When the root has taken to the soil all I do is cut the wire from the tube and open it up to release the root. Has anyone produced an airial root longer than this??. Love to see any other fig lovers results at airial roots.
cheers bonsaiboy50

[bodhidharma]

Very cool and i wish i could, but not in Central Victoria.

[cuwire]

Hi BB50

This is new to me .. tell me is your encouragement on the last 10cm into the ground or have you been working on it when shorter to the canopy.

Have you needed to protect it on its way down or ....? tell me more.

Thanks - like to learn a bit more.

Cheers David

[bonsaiboy50]

Hi BB50

This is new to me .. tell me is your encouragement on the last 10cm into the ground or have you been working on it when shorter to the canopy.

Have you needed to protect it on its way down or ....? tell me more.

Thanks - like to learn a bit more.

Cheers David

Hi David, To successfully get an airial, especially one this long, to grow down this long and straight you have to be looking after it from day one.Protecting it from hot winds,its tendancy to dry out and die ( ie keeping up your watering and humidity) Keeping the root from winding itself around other roots or the trunk of the tree. Being very carefull not to damage the root when working on the tree, if you break the root tip off it is usually all over. There is also an element of luck involved of course as well as the individual habit of the tree ( some figs throw airial roots more readely than others) I have beeen lucky with this one as it has thrown a mass of airials over many years. Most I have trained down and styled.

[cuwire]

Thanks BB

Cheers David

[Hornet]

Drinking straws are you best friend when it comes to this. Excellent way to protect young roots and grow them straight

[Andrew F]

Drinking straws are you best friend when it comes to this. Excellent way to protect young roots and grow them straight

We really need a Tut for this. Iv tried and they only get as far as being a finger then they die off.
Iv found scratching the bark back and applying root hormone powder gets it started.

[Andrew E]

I just make sure there is a lot of humidity around. Having a spray bottle handy and spraying them whenever I'm passing helps. I like the straw idea, good thinking.
When I'm developing a tree with aerial roots I will put them in a shadier spot to help with moisture retention. I don't worry about the leaves as they'll be sorted when I defoliate. You do have to be careful of them though as they can be finicky.
I've also heard of people wrapping the root in tissues soaked in water so that there is sufficient moisture. The tissue directs the roots down to the soil.
Cheers
Andrew