AusBonsai

Shimpaku juniper
Air layer 2014
Cost $0

How tall is it now peter?

Ken

Hi Ken , from soil to top is 300mm but trunk is at an angle so trunk length to foliage tip is at350 mm
Peterb

Hi everyone
just an update on this tree , I split the trunk and then wrapped with raffia and 2 layers of grafting tape , then 3 wraps of wire . After I had bent it I realized that the top of the tree wasn't wired and that I hadn't left 1 wire longer to wire the top , so had to add another wire to shape the top. When I tried to push the wire into the soil it wouldn't go and then I remembered that I had planted the layer onto a slate to spread the roots , so had to remove this . Just as well I did because when I lifted it I found that the roots and soil under the slate were very dry so potted into a new pot with a little chopped sphag moss in the soil . I also left all foliage and roots to assist with recovery .

Hi everyone
Meant to ask in the update , how long do people normally leave the wire on when they've split the trunk . This is the first time I'm doing this , so any info would be very helpful . Here is a few differnt angles
peterb

I usually leave for 2 years min, you will find even then that the bends may open out after you remove it. if so just reapply wire.
re the comp trees, last time i removed the wire for the tree for photos and then reapplied after

Ken

You'll just need to watch how it grows. If it grows well and thickens you may find the trunk thickening above the binding. That's a bad thing - reverse taper - and you'll need to unwire, unbind then reapply bothto hold it together but allow a little more room for trunk thickening.
Sometimes a year is enough to heal the split but if it hasn't grown enough and healed fully you might need to leave it longer. You'll be able to get some idea how it is going because you can see the split at the top.

Thanks for the feedback guys , I'll keep a close eye on the top for that thickening
peterb

Hi everyone
Just an update on this tree, after I had split and bent the trunk it sulked for a long while and then the foliage started to fade in colour and it wasn't looking very good. I put it down to the treatment it had received , but then I happened to notice a few small white spots in the foliage and on closer inspection found a very bad infestation of very small scale. I then treated it with confidor and 2 weeks later another treatment, it has bounced back beautifully but I'm a bit nervous to do anything to it for now except to fertilise and seasol regularly. I will see what it looks like in the winter but I might have to withdraw this one from the comp
cheers
Peterb