AusBonsai

Hi all,
I have layered some more Black Pines.
HISTORY: Ray Nesci has a couple of Black pines that he is working on and wanted to use them for doing some more layers. There is a Black Pine and a Corky Bark Black Pine. On his Black Pine there are a couple of nice little Mini or Shohin bonsai that could be developed. On the Corky Bark Black Pine he wants to remove one side, so, instead of throwing the cuttings away we decided to layer it.
The layer nearest the main tree will use the back branch.
I tried something different on these two layers. The layers where close together which would have prevented getting two separate layers. With them being so close I decided to layer both together in the one ball. I think it should work because each branch has it's own branch and foliage. Something I found very fascinating was how thick the bark is on the Corky Bark. The outside diameter of the branch would be three times the diameter of the hard wood.
Regards Ray

Awesome, it'll be good to see how you go with both the regular and the nishiki.

I've recently picked a couple of nishiki to be planted into the field for future propagation. I did some low scion grafts onto jbp stock but it'd be one step better to propagate some on their own roots for growing out into large nishiki.

Keep us updated on the progress.

Scott Roxburgh wrote:I've recently picked a couple of nishiki to be planted into the field for future propagation. I did some low scion grafts onto jbp stock but it'd be one step better to propagate some on their own roots for growing out into large nishiki.

Keep us updated on the progress.

Hi Scott,
I will keep the thread updated. If I get the same results as the Black Pines I did last year, I expect to see some roots about February 2014. You will have to post some photos of your nishiki in the grown. Would love to see them.

Regards Ray

Update?

Also Ray how do you treat the mess of layered roots to get a good nebari started on these pines?

Do you work a small part of the root ball each year or tease the root ball out in one go?

Ray. On the black pine there are two layers on one branch. I thought it was a no no to do that. If the nutrients are cut off at the first layer, wont the second layer be starved ...

I think I see needles in the space between those 2 layers. If there is a branch between the 2 that will supply the nutrients needed for the lower one.

Scott Roxburgh wrote:Update?

Also Ray how do you treat the mess of layered roots to get a good nebari started on these pines?

Do you work a small part of the root ball each year or tease the root ball out in one go?

Hi Scott,
I haven't repotted any of the layers as yet. Just for you mate I am going to lift one of the layers that was taken off in March 2013. I will take photos and let you know. There are a few points that are important. As mentioned before, the roots are very fragile when you remove the layer. I really should have taken the layers off after at about 4 months. The roots wouldn't have been so numerous. Because the roots were so entwined in the sphagnum I planted the layers without trying to spread the roots too much. Once the layers are planted into pots the roots will naturally spread. The layers I took off in March 2014 have roots coming out of the colanders. The colanders are 260mm diameter. As the roots thicken you will be able to do more with them without damage. I'll get back to you with some more photos. As far as an update on the pines in this thread, they are going okay. Because they were done latter they are not producing roots as quick as doing them in about October.

Regards Ray

fredman wrote:Ray. On the black pine there are two layers on one branch. I thought it was a no no to do that. If the nutrients are cut off at the first layer, wont the second layer be starved ...

Hi fredman,
I covered this subject in my first book an air layering. As long as you follow the rules you can do multiple layers on the same trunk/branch. The photo will show that every layer has it's own branch and foliage.
Regards Ray

Hi Scott,
I have taken some photos. I did two pines. Both these pines were layered at the same time. Layered 11 October 2012 and removed 12 March 2013. I didn't mention in the last post, after potting the layers, I would leave the layers for about a year before doing anything with them. This gives the roots a chance to get well established.
Regards Ray

Hi all,
An update on how the Black Pines are going. The following is an update on one of the trees I took off in March 2014. As you can see the candles need cutting back.
Regards Ray

Great work ray I am about to put a jbp layer on the weekend and I successfully layer a fig and a elm recently thanks to your book

dan.e wrote:Great work ray I am about to put a jbp layer on the weekend and I successfully layer a fig and a elm recently thanks to your book

Hi Dan,
Make sure you use the new method described in the "Layering Trident Maples" book.

Regards Ray

Ray,

Were either of these the corky bark? If not, how did they go?

I have a corky bark JBP that I'd like to try a layer on, buds are moving so I think now would be the ideal time?

Sure will Ray I printed the update and will follow directions exactly I tried to upload a pic but can't seem to work out how to resize pics I will have to ask the kids !!

Scott Roxburgh wrote:Ray,

Were either of these the corky bark? If not, how did they go?

I have a corky bark JBP that I'd like to try a layer on, buds are moving so I think now would be the ideal time?

Hi Scott,
The photo is not of the Corky Bark, but, one of the layers of the Corky Bark is firing along quite well. My observation about layering Black Pines, is the right timing. This is certainly the best month to do them. Please remember I live in Sydney. I use the candle growth as my guide. You can see the candles are growing very strongly as shown on the last photo. The bark on the Corky Bark is very thick, so be careful what size branches you choose. If the branch is too thin you will end up with virtually no hardwood. When I was doing the Corky Bark at least one of the branches was about 10mm diameter. After removing the bark I ended up with a hardwood centre of about 3-4mm. I had to support the layer by tying it to another branch so it wouldn't break. You may find that the Corky Barks take a little longer than an ordinary Black Pine. Use the root growth as your guide as to when to remove the layer.

Regards Ray