AusBonsai

Hey Everyone,
Well despite my predicament at the moment I decided to risk sitting up for a while and attacked my elm today and have now attached a nice air-layer. Hopefully I wont kill the damn thing. Nothing ventured nothing gained. I decided to layer this one as you can see the trunk is quite straight and the length of the trunk from the soil line to the first branch is quite a way up. So one solution was to just remove the top of the tree but what a waste so the air layer. For the top half I am hoping to create a formal upright and as for the bottom I am not sure yet it has a mass spread of roots at the base.

Roots First remove the layers Now add the Sphagnum Moss Now we wait and see if it works

2 trees for the price of one hahahaha

Feel free to comment I am by no means a layering expert.


Archie

Hi Archie,

Wrap the cling wrap with some al-foil, if the sun gets onto the clear layer of cling wrap it will cook the sphagnum moss. Personally I would have layered the tree higher up, but that's just my personal choice. Rotate the tree regularly, every week, this will help with uniform root development.

Paul

Hey Paul,
Thanks for the info I have just run outside and covered the layer with al-foil. Thanks for that I totally forgot about it.

Archie

Hi Archie, Paul is right about roots and moss gettting burnt if not covered. I would use al foil in sumer and some black/dark plastic or cloth to cover during winter or early spring as it help absorb the heat required for quick root development (same technology/idea with black plastic pots).
Cheers,
DK