Air layering Chinese elm

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 27th, 2013, 9:03 am

Hi all is it too late to air layer a Chinese elm? Also what is the best method for this species? Ring bark, tourniquet or snap and apply rooting hormone ??

I have only used the ring bark method before on a juniper.

This is the victim

Post by **Bougy Fan** » January 27th, 2013, 9:59 am

I always ringbark. I do find elms nearly always want to bridge, if that happens I twist a wire torniquet in 2 places to stop the bridging. I would give it a go but our elms don't really go dormant up here.

Paulneill · Post by **Paulneill** » January 27th, 2013, 10:06 am

I don't think it's to late . Just ring bark it and make sure the gap is wide enough 1.5 x the diam for Chinese eml. I have started using sphagnum moss mixed with something else gritty like bonsai potting mix or diatomite. soak and mix the 2 together by blending with my hands this helps brake down the moss and makes it a lot easier to bare root the following year. It also helps the layer loose moisture quicker and keeps the roots less water logged . Chinese elm are fast to put out roots I would expect to remove the layer in 6 weeks but if it is slow you could wait until the following spring to remove it . I am constantly layering trees . And have had very few failures . Check out Graeme potter ail layering on u tube if in doubt.

Post by **Bougy Fan** » January 27th, 2013, 10:35 am

That's a good point about the medium Paul. I now use a mix of spag, diatomite, zeolite and scoria in split pots. I only use 100% spag on small layers and I just keep it in place with alfoil. When you use 100% spag moss I find the result is better and faster but it takes years to get the spag out of the roots. Of course you can't get the moss out at seperation without damaging the new roots and I find the prescence of spag seems to slow down the growth of roots

Post by **kcpoole** » January 27th, 2013, 12:45 pm

I put 2 on a trident maple last week
1 using split pot wit chopped spag moss, diatomite, zeolite, sand and any other component lying around.
The other was just spag moss wrapped in plastic
Lolling to take them off in 8 weeks or so hope fully they will be good for winter

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » January 27th, 2013, 1:16 pm

Personally i think you are to late for Melbourne. I am taking mine off now and letting them settle for Autumn.

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 27th, 2013, 5:37 pm

Thank you for your responses.. Bohdi are you saying if I do it now I may loose the air layer or it just won't be ready till next year.

aiden.J · Post by **aiden.J** » January 27th, 2013, 6:26 pm

Ulmus parvifolia is a native specie of China and that is why the seeds and the caring materials for this just can obtained from China if some one is really interested to get the original stuff.It is given a a name of "one of the most splendid elms" so we can judge the popularity of this.It grows up to 10–18 m (30–60 ft) tall with a slender trunk.Its fruit is Samara which is also a popular too.

chipper5 · Post by **chipper5** » January 28th, 2013, 12:00 pm

Hi Eliass,

have a read through this link to a similar previous topic and it may give you some further ideas.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10033&p=107033#p107033

Hope it helps,

Pup · Post by **Pup** » January 28th, 2013, 12:48 pm

aiden.J wrote:Ulmus parvifolia is a native specie of China and that is why the seeds and the caring materials for this just can obtained from China if some one is really interested to get the original stuff.It is given a a name of "one of the most splendid elms" so we can judge the popularity of this.It grows up to 10–18 m (30–60 ft) tall with a slender trunk.Its fruit is Samara which is also a popular too.

Unfortunately our Quarantine laws prohibit its import to Australia, they are readily available from stock that has been grown here before the Ban on them.

Cheers Pup

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » January 28th, 2013, 12:50 pm

eliass wrote:. Bohdi are you saying if I do it now I may loose the air layer or it just won't be ready till next year.

We only have another month till Autumn and if you only have small roots starting to extend when the tree wants to go dormant then they will have to undergo Winter and probably die. Whats the hurry,

wait till next Spring to be certain. Patience.

cre8ivbonsai · Post by **cre8ivbonsai** » January 28th, 2013, 7:55 pm

bodhidharma wrote:
eliass wrote:. Bohdi are you saying if I do it now I may loose the air layer or it just won't be ready till next year.
We only have another month till Autumn and if you only have small roots starting to extend when the tree wants to go dormant then they will have to undergo Winter and probably die. Whats the hurry, wait till next Spring to be certain. Patience.

^^this!

or unless there is something special going on upstairs(?) just chop the top, discard and start developing the main tree straight away

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 28th, 2013, 8:59 pm

No no ill wait... It has some cool movement...

Paulneill · Post by **Paulneill** » January 28th, 2013, 9:21 pm

The layer will be fine over winter and could be removed early spring

No extra protection needed

eliass · Post by **eliass** » January 28th, 2013, 9:49 pm

Lol ...

AusBonsai