AusBonsai

Hi there crazy kids. About 7 months ago, I needed to create an air layer on a Shohin Chinese Elm that I have been working on. I needed to adjust the location of the basal roots and Bodhi had, some time ago showed us how to aply this technique using toothpicks rather than trying to scalp part of the trunk. (Photos below) Well, can I say that the results have so far exceeded my expectations and I will use this method again. It is, as far as I can see the least invasive method I have seen and the least time consuming with great results. Interestingly I have no idea what happened to the toothpicks!!!!!

Thanks again Bodhi ...you are da man!!!

Thanks Jester. Nice to see the progress. I will take the job of President if we can be a benevolent Dictatorship

7 months in and that's a decent flare developing. I've not heard of the toothpick method, what's involved?

Here you go Anja, hope this helps:

bodhidharma wrote:

There is another way which is very successful. I got the info from Koreshoffs book and immediately tried it. Drill holes into the tree at the point you want roots at. Use a toothpick sized drill and drill right the way around.going in beyond the cambium. Take your toothpicks and wetting one end stick it into some powdered growth hormone or liquid, if you prefer and insert it into the hole. once all the toothpicks are in bury the toothpicks with your growing medium and wait. I have had success with Maples, lilacs and am going to try it on an evergreen

Anja wrote:7 months in and that's a decent flare developing. I've not heard of the toothpick method, what's involved?

Jester wrote:Here you go Anja, hope this helps:

bodhidharma wrote:

There is another way which is very successful. I got the info from Koreshoffs book and immediately tried it. Drill holes into the tree at the point you want roots at. Use a toothpick sized drill and drill right the way around.going in beyond the cambium. Take your toothpicks and wetting one end stick it into some powdered growth hormone or liquid, if you prefer and insert it into the hole. once all the toothpicks are in bury the toothpicks with your growing medium and wait. I have had success with Maples, lilacs and am going to try it on an evergreen

Anja wrote:7 months in and that's a decent flare developing. I've not heard of the toothpick method, what's involved?

Very interesting, thank you!

this is an interesting technique bodhi. is 7 months an average time span, to get these results as good as they are, wouldnt a standard airlayer be just as good and a little quicker?

everything happens slower down south

I would balance those roots next re-pot. You don't want crossing roots or any that are overly strong and you don't want the bad roots fusing before you fix them either.

Hi Asus, I can't argue with you there! and I have in fact already removed some but they were a lot finer than what you see. My question is, should I wait for winter to do that or do you think it is safe enough to do now???

Regards


John

well it wont go fully dormant being a young tree, but personally I would wait till spring it will give it more time to grow out and strengthen those roots. Some might say its fine now, and I guess it is, but there is no need to rush. A strong tree is a happy one.
Once I go to re pot I would cut back hard re balancing all the roots, you don't want issues later on down the track. Setting your roots now is the way to go, wire them if you need too, I have seen thin wire "splint" style wrapped with cotton. It rots away after awhile leaving light cut marks if any.

I have a lot of this work to do myself, although I may skip it and just layer new roots in.

Thanks Asus, I will follow your advice, and you're right, there IS no hurry!!

regards


John

Wow that looks like a cool way to get roots where you want them. Do you think it would work on an azalea? Has anyone tried evergreens? Also why do you leaver the toothpicks in there? and what do you do with them once the roots start growing, just cut them off i guess?
cheers...

Hi Neal, the whole idea of the of the toothpicks is to hold much of the hormone powder in place and to brace it up against the expose cambium that was exposed when drilling the small holes. The idea is that the strength of the roots will actually have enough force to push the toothpicks out when the time is right. When I first heard about this technique, I thought to myself..."Small fresh new roots would'nt be strong enough would they?" but as you can see they are definitely strong enough. You don't actually touch the toothpicks once implanted because remember, once they have been inserted you are now covering the area over with soil in order to leave it to mother nature to do it's work. I personally don't see why you can't use this technique on most other species Neal. I think you would just need to look into what's the best time of the year. Hope this helps

John

Thankyou jester! That does help, i think some experimental drilling and toothpicking is in order

I must have read the same post at the same time, about 7 months ago I used this method on a plum (prunis bliriana I think)
After an exploitory dig I can see I have lots of fine roots near the surface but will wait till spring repot time.
I believe the main purpose of the toothpick is to stop the cambium from healing over.

Regards Gerard