To Layer, or Not to Layer

[Raymond]

[img][/img]
This is an old pic of my Elm. Would an Air Layer would give me a better specimen?

[Bougy Fan]

It's a little hard to see exactly but my first impression is yes. The main part of the trunk is fairly straight and taper less so turning it into 2 trees would be a good start. Not sure what else is below the soil but it could also be an option to layer some new roots down the bottom as well.

[Ray M]

Hi Raymond,
I think the tree definitely needs to be layered. There is potential to do several layers.

Regards Ray

[Boics]

Absolutely. Layer away.

[Raymond]

Hi Raymond,
I think the tree definitely needs to be layered. There is potential to do several layers.

Regards Ray

Several layers???

[time8theuniverse]

If you layer of sections as you work your way down the trunk with it in the ground, or in a grow pot, then it would be putting tapper on while you where getting more trees out of just one.

The trunk is very straight and long. You could keep the proportions but it will need to grow into them.

[Gav]

Yeah i think you should layer away...i agree there is potential for several layers...I would layer the apex and twice on the trunk... But that is just me...

Gav

[Ray M]

Hi Raymond,
I think the tree definitely needs to be layered. There is potential to do several layers.

Regards Ray

Several layers???

Hi Raymond,
Yes mate you can do several layers on this tree. The secret to doing several layers on the one tree is to make sure each layer has it's own branch and foliage.

photo12-2.jpg

I have shown some possibilities for layering. When doing multiple layers it is important that each layer has it's own branch and foliage. If you look at where I have shown the layers you will see that this is the case. When you have a look at the photo I have attached you can do layers at the Red, Green, Blue and Yellow lines. After the layers have been taken off and the bottom part of the tree has recovered you could cut it down to the purple line and produce more taper into the tree.

Regards Ray

[bonsaibeginer]

Sorry Ray but I have just a quick question. Would you or can you put all those layers on at once or do you need to start at the top and work down one at a time? Is having a branch and foliage enough to do multiple layers on one trunk?
Thanks

[Shane Martin]

[img][/img]
This is an old pic of my Elm. Would an Air Layer would give me a better specimen?

Raymond, I had an almost identical elm to yours, only taller, like a walking stick... which I set 2 air layers on last December, and separated about 3 weeks ago as the tree was bursting bud.

Chinese Elm_CWaller air layers.jpg

One layer had good roots and the other had none, and had just calloused over. Not exactly sure what went wrong, but I feel my timing was not ideal setting them in December? Personally I would set them now, and they should be ready to remove by the end of Spring....all going well

[Gerard]

Layers will callous over if they are left too long. 10 weeks should be plenty of time to develop good roots any time between now and Christmas. Elms are probably the easiest of all species to air layer.

[bonsaibeginer]

Shane, I think the problem might've been that you didn't remove all the cambium from that layer that didn't take. If you leave even just a bit on, it could rebridge the layer and callous over. (?)

That's my understanding anyway.

[Gav]

Nothing to do with your tree...but i saw this little guy on your fence...

in a dumb mood...

gav

[Raymond]

Hi Raymond,
I think the tree definitely needs to be layered. There is potential to do several layers.

Regards Ray

Several layers???

Hi Raymond,
Yes mate you can do several layers on this tree. The secret to doing several layers on the one tree is to make sure each layer has it's own branch and foliage.

photo12-2.jpg

I have shown some possibilities for layering. When doing multiple layers it is important that each layer has it's own branch and foliage. If you look at where I have shown the layers you will see that this is the case. When you have a look at the photo I have attached you can do layers at the Red, Green, Blue and Yellow lines. After the layers have been taken off and the bottom part of the tree has recovered you could cut it down to the purple line and produce more taper into the tree.

Regards Ray

I have made the fatal mistake of reading too much and not acting enough! I will be taking 2 layers off this tree this weekend. My next question is do I use a spit pot with Sphag and soil or just use a plastic bag with Sphag only?

[k2bonsai]

For trees that quickly and easily produce layers i just use the plastic. For trees that tend to be a little tricker or are very thick, i trend to use split pots as these allow me to add water throughout the period i am trying to develop roots. I found with some of my layers last year, the larger ones had trouble taking off in the bag before the moss started drying out. Even trying to squirt water into the bag was a little hit & miss, therefore these ones are reset this year with split pots. Also split pots require the branch to be relatively upright and need more room to fit the pot around them