AusBonsai

Hi All,

old, new member here.

I have a quick question, I wish to take a fairly large air layer from a large Ruby ruby fig i have. I am wondering which would be the best technique of air layering. The two methods I am considering are ring barking the branch by stripping away the bark and covering with sphagnum moss in a bag/foil or just applying a wire tourniquet very tightly (biting into the bark slightly) and then covering with sphagnum moss and wrapping.

Cheers,
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I have been air layering Moreton Bay figs and Microcarpas very successfully by removing a ring of bark. Make sure you scrape away all the cambium layer, or the tree will just heal itself and you'll have to start again! Wet the sphagnum moss, then wrring it out so it's just damp to discourage rot. The roots will grow from the top of the wound, so put a little hormone gel around the top edge before you bag it up.

In Sydney's summer steam, I have had viable rootballs in 6 weeks.

Hope that helps!

Thymetraveller

Thymetraveller,

thanks for the reply, I had some concerns about the ring bark method due to the fact that Ficus's normally "bleed sap" when cut. However I will take your advice and give it a go.

cheers,
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Yes, they do bleed, but it doesnt harm the tree. You can clean the sap off your tools with methylated spirits or nail polish remover, and wear food prep gloves if you're fussy about your hands!

Spray water on the cut to stop the latex sap from bleeding.

When preparing you spag moss, add a good quantity of Seasol to the water. Every little bit helps, but you shouldn't have any problems at all getting roots on your layer. Sorry, yep ing bark is the way to go with figs.