Layer gets its first repot

[MattA]

Jan 2012 I collected a large Callistemon 'Little John' and as a number of larger branches needed removing I thought I would layer a couple, this one was set late sept '12.

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Less than 6wks later roots were already showing at the edge of the bag.

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It was seperated at the end of nov '12 & potted up in a standard 20cm nursery pot. Over the weekend it got its first styling & while it has been clear for a while that it needed repotting, it was today I finally got round to it. Slipped out of the pot, most of the roots are in the bottom half so things havent been all good.

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The lower half was cut off then a knife taken to the remains, cutting in a straight line from trunk to edge sectioning the root ball.

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Now I can spread them, get underneath & remove the rest of the branch left when the layer was seperated.

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Into an oversized pot & topped with my usual Tillandsia mulch, as its fresh not dried I dispensed with chopping, it will still do the job intended (keeping the surface protected from washing away until roots form.

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Back out to full sun now grow baby grow...

[Damian Bee]

Mmm, nice layer.

[Steve B]

Nice work Matt, I like it a lot! Think this will be a stunner in no time.

Couple of questions for you:
- what sort of diameter was the cutting at the base - 3-4cm?
- post cutting looks like you dropped it into a fairly standard potting mix or are there some secret ingredients involved?
- for aftercare did you stand it in a tray or pebbles to keep it moist or just watered it well?

I've had a play with a couple of Calli's through summer and the first one I did in wet potting mix and sat in a bucket for the first few weeks has kicked on similar to yours, whilst another I did in a much more open mix has dropped all it's leaves and is looking very sorry for itself...

Thanks

[Neli]

I also have number of calistemon airlayers...and was not sure if they will be OK...So seeing this is very encouraging.
Looking good Matt! Lets see what will you do next.I do my airlayers in very coarse sand mix...Do You think it will be PK?

[MattA]

Thanks Damian, will reply to pm next

Steve,

Couple of questions for you:
- what sort of diameter was the cutting at the base - 3-4cm?
I just measured & its 4cm, the ringbarked section was about the same
- post cutting looks like you dropped it into a fairly standard potting mix or are there some secret ingredients involved?
Dropped straight into native potting mix, no added extras (apart from extra osmocote, hungry buggers)
- for aftercare did you stand it in a tray or pebbles to keep it moist or just watered it well?
Watered 3-4 times a day but no water tray was used, once its clear its made transition watering goes back to normal, having said that I find Callistemon some of the thirstiest natives apart from Lepto's

Neli, they should be ok as long as they are not C.citrinus, its forms or hybrids, so far I have had no success despite various times of year & methods tried. Given their love of water I would swap out the sandy mix for plain sphagnum or similar.

[Neli]

This is one of mine. Can it be citrinus? I dont know what it is.

[MattA]

Neli, from what can be seen I would say not, for positive easy ID a clear pic of leaf & bark are a minimum.
Btw your garden looks lovely & lush

[Neli]

Thanks Matt,
I am crazy about gardening...I think my garden will be featuring in the South african gardener magazine. The editor Tanya Visser came home. I dont know if you have the home channel...she does the gardener program on TV.Will try to get a better picture, but since it is already airlayered...just to wait and see...