AusBonsai

If the trunk is long. Is it possible or recommendable to do more than one layering on the the same trunk?

Don was telling me he is doing multiple layers in succession on the persian Ironwood but I had heard it was not recommended.

Ive taken multiple cuttings from fig branches, Is there that much difference?

BB

If you think about it logically, there's no real difference between making one air-layer or making 5, as long as there is room.

Ultimately, they're all having their nutrient flow cut off so they're forced to shoot roots. Maybe I'm wrong, as I haven't actually tried it in practice, but I think my theory is sound

but if you did say, 3, then wouldn't the top ones just be like cuttings? because the bottom has taken everything?

MasonC wrote:but if you did say, 3, then wouldn't the top ones just be like cuttings? because the bottom has taken everything?

But they're all severed from the supply of nutrients in the same way...

hmm. wheres the experts?

You may find this article helpful, especially the last paragraph: What is Air Layering?

Hmmm, I would think that (depending on the genus/species and time of year) the plant has the possibility of suffering a bit too much stress from heaps of layerings on one branch. I know we're trying to achieve stress but how much can one branch take? Are we calling out for an aerial-layer-off?
I guess if you kept the water up to it, they should survive. As not all water is transpired, does it end up back in the peat moss from phloem loss, as it travels down the shoot toward where the roots used to be?
I too am a novice aerial layerer! Where's some authority??

I'm not sure if it is applicable...
but in the case of willow if you submerge a branch completely underwater for a week or so.
it will sprout roots from wherever the water is, top bottom side or all of the above!

So it could be possible that if you air layer on the same branch/trunk/stick/twig
then chances are that roots will take from both the top and bottom of the air layer.
does that make sense?

Maybe this will help:

MasonC wrote:hmm. wheres the experts?

Yes you can do more than one layering on the same branch. I asked this question moths ago. I was recomended, i am in the process of 2 & 3 with fruit trees and natives. They still have a bit to go, but all have roots forming.



K poole, wrote
Why woud the sucess rate decrease?

Aug 29th 09When we do a layer, we cut back all of the Bark, xylem etc till we get to the heartwood of the tree. there is ( as I understand it) nothing left on the trunk to pass nutrients up and down so why does it matter how many are on there together. So long as there is a bit of foliage between the layers then all is good.
I have seen trees with 3 on a branch togethere and they each looked the same when taken off. I have done a JBP with 2 and they both looked the same to me when I separated.
I would have no hesitation it putting at least 4 on the same tree if i wanted no matter what the variety.
In fact I will be putting 3 on a buxus soon but they will be on different branches I think

Yes in most cases you can do multiple layers as long as you have plenty of foliage in between.
Water and minerals are transported from the roots up through the sapwood (which you are not cutting into) so all pieces are getting their water. Food made from the leaves (photosynthasis) passes down the trunk to the roots just under the bark (or until it is stopped by an air layer). So if each layer has foliage between it and the next they are getting water from the roots and food from their leaves.
Hope this explains it better.
Deb

Oh, and Jordy - Willows are one of the few plants where you can put in a cutting upside down and it will strike just as good. They will send out roots anywhere. On our farm we have cut willow trunks and branches into logs and just chucked them into drains (when it was the thing to do and they weren't classed as weeds). They all took.