Air layer question.

[srini]

Hey everyone and thanks for all the help this site and many of you have given me over the last few years from just reading and learning so much. So this afternoon I air layered a nice branch on a murraya that I cut back about 6 weeks ago. Unfortunately it was a much more difficult task than I had first anticipated due to the access that I had to the branch. It is hot and humid in brisbane lately and lets just say by the end i was dripping. Air layering can be a simple task if the branch you like is right there in front of you at eye level or lower but man can it be tough if this isn't the case. When I finally got it done and thought all was well I realised that the sphagnum moss wasn't quite covering the lower part of the cut not happy. Was just wondering if this is going to be a major problem and I will have to go through the laborious task of struggling through it all again. The main cut where I want roots to grow from is well covered and I would presume that it should be okay. It is all sealed below the lowest cut just not fully encased with the sphagnum. there is about a 100mm of cambium removed if that helps and the branch is around 40-50mm.

[Truth]

Hi mate, I just separated a whole batch of airlayers in the last few weeks, with some good successes, and a few failures that i've learned from. For starters, I found if you don't keep the sapwood of the supporting branch below the layer protected, it'll dry out to the detriment of the layer above. You can visualise this by keeping an eye on the foliage of the layer, if it starts to droop, gain autumnal colours or tinges, dry out/burn, etc. it means you've interrupted the water supply of the layer. Now in my experience with this last batch, if this is only mild the layer may continue to soldier on, but too severe and it'll probably fail.

Secondly, and I tried this on a few on my maples, a ring of 10cm distance is probably too long even for thick material. I found even if you use a smaller distance, if you tightly wrap a wire tourniquet around the middle of the ring barking, and twist it really tight with pliers, it'll hold off the callous trying to re-bridge the gap. This may not be necessary for all layers, but it worked for me and I don't see much to lose with it, really. All the best!

[Ryceman3]

Hey everyone and thanks for all the help this site and many of you have given me over the last few years from just reading and learning so much. So this afternoon I air layered a nice branch on a murraya that I cut back about 6 weeks ago. Unfortunately it was a much more difficult task than I had first anticipated due to the access that I had to the branch. It is hot and humid in brisbane lately and lets just say by the end i was dripping. Air layering can be a simple task if the branch you like is right there in front of you at eye level or lower but man can it be tough if this isn't the case. When I finally got it done and thought all was well I realised that the sphagnum moss wasn't quite covering the lower part of the cut not happy. Was just wondering if this is going to be a major problem and I will have to go through the laborious task of struggling through it all again. The main cut where I want roots to grow from is well covered and I would presume that it should be okay. It is all sealed below the lowest cut just not fully encased with the sphagnum. there is about a 100mm of cambium removed if that helps and the branch is around 40-50mm.

Hey Srini,
My experience based on advice I've been given (good advice!) is that the "ring-barked" area removed should be around 1.5X the width of the trunk being layered. So, if the trunk you are layering is 50mm, you should be cutting out around 75mm by my guess. Ideally the whole lot should be covered in sphagnum to make a model layer... But since you removed an extra 25mm or so (100mm), you may well get away with a lack of sphagnum at the base, although other factors (water loss etc..) may come into play. I would stay positive with what you have done, but those with more experience might have other ideas... Good luck!

[srini]

Now that i'm looking at a photo i just took of it in the dark i'd say it's actually closer to 75mm and not the 100 I initially thought just from looking at the size of the foil and thinking back to the cut (100 was just a guess). I wouldve been slightly more methodical was it not for the awkwardness of it all. I've had success with air layers in the past but have always completely enveloped the ring-barked section. heres a pic not that it will really help. I've just never had such a difficulty time getting them done.

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