Air layer?

[simonm]

hey guys,
is it possible to successfully do an air layer at any time of the year?
Simon,

[bodhidharma]

G'day Simon, for best results late spring to early summer. If you do it to late you run the risk (if you get frosts) of burning and killing off the new shoots.

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Simon and welcome to ausbonsai. Depends on what species you are trying to propagate - I would tend to leave it now as everything slows down over winter. I can do figs up here in sunny QLD but even they slow down compared to summer - I can usually cut one off in 4 weeks during summer while the growth really powers. Some species do not take well to airlayering - I have a swampy that has been going for 4 months and still doesn't have enough roots.

[Jamie]

Hi Simon and welcome to ausbonsai. Depends on what species you are trying to propagate - I would tend to leave it now as everything slows down over winter. I can do figs up here in sunny QLD but even they slow down compared to summer - I can usually cut one off in 4 weeks during summer while the growth really powers. Some species do not take well to airlayering - I have a swampy that has been going for 4 months and still doesn't have enough roots.

agreed on the figs! i have been able to remove them in a ver short time and still sustain the tree with minimal rootage

not keen on the swampy takin so long Tony! i put one on a few weeks back, knowing it was going to slow down a little. i think it will be late spring before i can get mine off, i have used peat moss instead of spag this time, so we shall see how it goes!

[simonm]

okay, well i tried to make one yesterday... and my dog proceeded to rip it off the tree....

[Jamie]

okay, well i tried to make one yesterday... and my dog proceeded to rip it off the tree....

did yo put it back on?

[simonm]

he tore the plastic on the wrapping so i didnt bother, chances are he would just rip it off again, i will pick a higher branch next time so that he cant wreck it.

[kcpoole]

Thats gotta be the funniest excuse for a failed Airlayer
LOL

Ken

[simonm]

and possibly the most annoying excuse, it was on the tree for a total of 5 minutes before it was shredded, turn my back for 2 minutes to go and get water for the tree and then its ruined.
Simon

[Glenda]

Try a wire enclosure around the whole tree next time. I had a golden retriever who constanly pulled out anything new in the garden. Was the only way to stop her.

[simonm]

my dog is a golden retriever too,

[Greth]

Wire cage might have to be the go, my cats have difficulty distinguishing between scratching post and standard rose too.

I am doing airlayers now, I know they will be slow, but this is actually the beginning of the growing season here. Have to take my chances with frosts, the species I am trying dont bat an eyelid at frost usually.Frost will happen until mid October, last year we had first 40+ heatwave in November So I dont have a long growing season in late spring, haveta make the most of winter. Frost isnt such a problem as Blast Furnace weather.

[baz7]

ok ok ok i got the hidden hint here...

never to buy a golden retriever.. lol

cant wait for spring.. im going to be air layering a nice branch off a 50 year old mulberry tree with spagnum moss

[MattA]

Hey Simon,

In theory you can set a layer at anytime of year, the reason most advise late spring is to make the process quicker. The species you are wanting to layer will also determine when is best, eg Camellia are best set just after flowering. I set this layer in April with no dramas viewtopic.php?f=104&t=4245

Why do you guys up north bother layering things like bougie or fig, they both strike from HUGE cuttings with ease even down here during the warmer months. Unless its to try and improve the nebari of an established tree or to take an "instant" tree off I wouldnt bother, cut em chuck them in sand 6-8wks later they are thumping.

I too have problems with *(&$%& cats scratching at trees, especially the larger stuff and those inground that have coarser bark, on my weekly inspection of one of my casuarina's I found a heap of the nicely developing bark had been shredded by one of the nieghbours cats... where is the T@%*n? As for dogs, a damn good hiding with one of my trees that had been eaten solved that problem, I have heard retrievers are a bit on the d*%$ side so maybe get a better dog

Matt

[Taffy]

I guess we're lucky, we don't get moggies here on our 2 acres of semi-bush block - and anyway, even if we did, my Siberian loves cats - reckon they taste just like rabbit!