AusBonsai

Today I decided to put an airlayer on a Radiata PIne I collected a while ago.
It is an experimental tree I have shown before here where I seriously bent the largish trunk viewtopic.php?f=131&t=7125&p=93612&hili ... ata#p93612 , and as it has not died yet from the abuse, I thought I will layer off this sections so I can maybe make a Useful tree out of that bit

Enjoy and Hope others can use this thread

Ken

Thes pics show the process of Ring Barking the tree

Take a Sharp knife and run around the tree about the trunk width apart, and remove all the bark and Cambium from the trunk

For this tree I use a Plastic pot slit and wrapped around the trunk and tied on
You can use this method only if you can pay particular attention daily to the layer to ensure it is well watered. If you cannot water daily, then use a Wrapping of plastic to seal in the moisture so the substrate does not dry out

In the pot I have a layer of Sphagnum moss, Then fill up the pot with your mix of choice. I used my Diatomite / Zeolite mix with a handful of chopped Sphagnum mixed in to it

I have never tried a layer of this size ( 2 inches diameter) on a pine so will be interesting to see how long it takes

Enjoy
Ken

Thank you for the little Tut, im going to a mates property [formerly a nursery] to take a few air layers of a couple of tree's, thanks for the tips Ken.

All the best with your tree

Hi Ken,

I hope this is not too much for it. Please keep us posted.

Cheers.

daiviet_nguyen wrote:Hi Ken,

I hope this is not too much for it. Please keep us posted.

Cheers.

So do I daviet
Certainly will update as results allow

any idea on why you think it may not work?
The previous work was several months ago now, and the upper part of the tree above the bend is growing madly since spring has hit so think it should be OK
Ken

Good evening Ken,

I did not realise that the top has been growing good. That would indicate it has recovered -- I think. I have not done any air-layering with radiata, but I have done cuttings plenty of times before. They responded well. So I think yours one would strike with no problem.

I am looking forward to the result Ken.

Best regards.

kcpoole wrote: So do I daviet
Certainly will update as results allow

any idea on why you think it may not work?
The previous work was several months ago now, and the upper part of the tree above the bend is growing madly since spring has hit so think it should be OK
Ken

I missed both these projects. Looks like fun, good luck. Love the knife

Bretts wrote:I missed both these projects. Looks like fun, good luck. Love the knife

Noting like a good old kitchen knife

An update on the experiment

It has been growing really well and although I could not see and roots I figured I will check just in case. I would prefer to have it stand on it own thru winter a instead of waiting another year. Also if it has not rooted, then the cut may have calloused over as it was growing so well.
The split pot I used was on the small side. and was not really holding enough water thru the hot days either so was another reason to look. If there were no roots, I would reapply a larger pot.

Upon revealing, there was only a few roots but they were quite large and an healthy, so decided to take it off.
Note the roots are only on one side. I rotated the tree every week or so but noticed the roots were on the other side of the trunk from where I had made the cut for the wire. Looks like the section of bark below the groove has died back and thus was no live tissue there to root?
Time will tell, but looks like that are will become Shari later ?

Front / back/ Who knows as there are branches off the trunk in 3 directions at the same spot, so at least 1 will go. but not until it has grown somewhat

Ken

after taking off, I potted up into my Diatomite mix in something like what I imagine the final planting angle.
This will have all the new roots on the Upper side as if the tree has fallen and the top roots are holding it in the ground.

Now all it has to do is continue to grow and the roots to grow and develop on their own.
It is located on my Bench in dappled shade and will get Seasol every 3 days or so ( when it stops raining!)

Enjoy.
Ken

Not a lot of root there, so We will find out just how tough Radiatas are

Just an update on this layer.
After about 4 months, it still green and looking happy with new shoots as well
Still wired in the pot and will be till at least the end of spring and into next summer.

Ken

Hi Kc

Thats a good thing cos when I sore the small amount of root's, my thoughts was maybe just a little bit to early on seperation from the main tree good luck

Regard's The Hacker

Hi Ken,

I missed your reply again I think it would fare just fine.

Radiata seems to be very robust. Years and years ago, I did a lot of cuttings, the striking and surviving rate was almost 100%.

Best regards.