AusBonsai

My airlayer is ready to get the chop tomorrow and i was wondering if i should bother using cut paste on the stump??
Also should i leave a bit of a stump so i dont risk cutting any of the new roots? And cut it back closer to the new roots next repot?

Cheers

Do you have a photo of the bag of roots, and the amount and shape of trunk underneath?

Nope.. no pictures unfortunatly just wondering if you have to apply cut paste so it doesnt rot from the cut upwards into the tree.

mcgee wrote:Nope.. no pictures unfortunatly just wondering if you have to apply cut paste so it doesnt rot from the cut upwards into the tree.

I don't think it's compulsory but I did apply cut paste on both Mel & Olive layers I did last year & both are pretty happy so I'll say I reckon it's a good idea. No drama leaving a bit of stump either, probably easier to remove it all at a later re-pot as the roots from layers can be a bit brittle/delicate. They harden up after a while, making it an easier task later on.

Good luck with it.

Ryceman3 wrote:

mcgee wrote:Nope.. no pictures unfortunatly just wondering if you have to apply cut paste so it doesnt rot from the cut upwards into the tree.

I don't think it's compulsory but I did apply cut paste on both Mel & Olive layers I did last year & both are pretty happy so I'll say I reckon it's a good idea. No drama leaving a bit of stump either, probably easier to remove it all at a later re-pot as the roots from layers can be a bit brittle/delicate. They harden up after a while, making it an easier task later on.

Good luck with it.

I agree with the above.
Whilst I've never used cut paste before for this cause I don't see the harm other than it likely not drying underground anyway?

I concur that leaving a bit of a stump at first is likely a good idea to protect the brittle roots.
Next season you can commence chomping into the stump as the more mature roots will be more tolerant.