AusBonsai

Pup's collection of Malaleucas makes me drool everytime. I heard that common nursery do not sell them. There are however, a lot of them on council creek and park lands. My relatives also have quite a few of very large trees with nice branches.
I was wondering if it's possible to airlay them???

why not mate? they root readily from cuttings so i cant see why they wouldnt take from airlayers, i am pretty sure that i have seen a few layered actually

kvan64 wrote:Pup's collection of Malaleucas makes me drool everytime. I heard that common nursery do not sell them. There are however, a lot of them on council creek and park lands. My relatives also have quite a few of very large trees with nice branches.
I was wondering if it's possible to airlay them???

Yes it is possible. I have done it with some species where I wanted a better root system. I used the same method of airlayer that you do for elms, maples and junipers. Ring bark and damp soil /clay or sphagnum moss.
Using a pot or poly wrap. Using the hardwood hormone rooting gel.
Time wise I did not take notes just watched and when the roots were poking out of the pot cut it off.

Cheers Pup

Do you do this in spring/summer? I too have a Maleleuca I wish to air-layer but know little about the process.

Waltron wrote:Do you do this in spring/summer? I too have a Melaleuca I wish to air-layer but know little about the process.

When the tree is actively growing, so it is a matter of watching for movement of the tree.
Most Australian natives have multiple growing season depending on humidity and heat,
in most cases when it is warm and the humidity is high they are growing. Under cultivation up to 8 spurts a year so watch for movement of your tree's.

Cheers Pup

Thanks for the confirmation and instruction Pup. I hope I could get some as good as yours in the future

How large a diameter can you air layer these trees or any trees in general?
Ive spotted a branch with great movement and would like to layer it but it is maybe 200mm diameter.
Im not sure what type of Malaleuca it is but it has the rough paper bark and pale yellow fluffy? flowers.

Crowie wrote:How large a diameter can you air layer these trees or any trees in general?
Ive spotted a branch with great movement and would like to layer it but it is maybe 200mm diameter.
Im not sure what type of Malaleuca it is but it has the rough paper bark and pale yellow fluffy? flowers.

Hey Crowie,

I cant help with melaleuca but at present have a layer on a pear that is 150mm in dia & have layered stuff up to 300mm without a hassle, its just a matter of leaving them longer & giving enough room to get sufficient roots to support the top before removing it.

Matt

I started one maybe two-three weeks ago, don't know the species, will have to wait for flowering to beg Pup nicely for an ID.
Its growing away after autumn rains, may be a bit slow in the cold, but then the humidity is so low here in the warm months it would prob have worse chances then. Maybe will post a pic if anyone is interested, have used rooter pot from Garden Express, neater than my efforts with wrapping growing medium in mid air in the middle of a large bush. Only about 12 mm diameter, this is a trial.