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Air-layer questions
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Author:  Marmalade [ 11 Aug 2015, 14:51 ]
Post subject:  Air-layer questions
This is the first year I have attempted air-layers. I researched methods from various sources, purchased suitable materials and set off. I did them in good time, I'm not totally sure when but I think I started late April/early May.

Firstly if you create an air-layer and the foliage doesn't die does that mean the air-layer has succeed to an extent?

Since discovering bonsai I wanted a hawthorn, So I air-layered two different hawthorns to create 2 different bonsai's. Although I can't see any roots coming through at all. Has it failed? Or requires more time?

I attempted a layer on a field maple, although some birds (I assume) pecked through the plastic and picked some moss out. So I discovered it dry. When I noticed this I watered it and re-wrapped it. Not sure how successful that will be.

The third tree I tried is a.....er....well i'm not really sure what it is; I was drawn to it because of its interesting dark bark and small leaves, it had white flowers in spring and I believe its some variety of wild plum. This air-layer has worked as I can see roots through the plastic. One question with this tree is - I did one layer and then another a little way up the trunk. This upper layer hasn't clearly got roots coming through, was this a mistake to attempt 2 on the same tree?

My final tree is a wild pear and I can see roots. Although they are all along the base of the layer and spiral around. If left will more roots develop further up?

One last thing is once I remove the layer from tree, what medium shall I pot them up into. Same stuff I have bonsai trees in?

Thanks in advance :Big Thumb:
Author:  Bill [ 11 Aug 2015, 15:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
the foliage should stay alive, it is still being fed by the original roots through the wood layers just under the cambium. foliage failing on the other hand can mean you cut too deep into the wood, or some other problem.

hawthorn i have found to be not so easy to layer. i have seen more success with younger potted trees rather than trying to layer old branches off a tree in the ground. i have not managed that yet. can you tell us more about this one?

the wild plum could be blackthorn. 2 on the same trunk is not a good idea imo. i would do the lower one, then layer the top off that a year or 2 later.

i don't really understand what you are asking about the pear. generally you want to grow roots at the base of the layer, is there some reason you want higher roots?

same stuff you have bonsai in :smallthumb:
Author:  AlainK [ 11 Aug 2015, 15:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
Bill wrote:
(...)
hawthorn i have found to be not so easy to layer.
Quote:


+1
Quote:
2 on the same trunk is not a good idea imo. i would do the lower one, then layer the top off that a year or 2 later.


It can succed on trees that airlayer easily, like most prunus, but there must be enough leaves, and so branches, between the bottom air-layer and the top one.

Code:
i don't really understand what you are asking about the pear. generally you want to grow roots at the base of the layer, is there some reason you want higher roots?


I think he means roots that can grow in a more "flat way" than those that are circling the pot. In any case, the answer is no. ;-) Why would the plant produce new roots since those it has already pushed out are working well?
Author:  sputnik [ 11 Aug 2015, 15:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
I have done air layers one above the other successfully but you do cut the chances of success drastically. I have only achieved it on a crab apple and an acer palmatum, both of which were very healthy vigorous trees.

As Bill says a wild plum with black bark sounds like a Blackthorn. Lucky old you. They don't all have that lovely bark that contrasts so well with the white flowers.

Hawthorns I have always found difficult. They form huge callouses that just don't want to turn into roots.
Author:  Marmalade [ 11 Aug 2015, 18:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
Thanks for the replies/comments guys.

I'm pretty certain this 'wild plum' is not blackthorn. It hasn't got thorns for starters. I've called it a 'plum' although the more I think about it the more I wonder how I came to this conclusion as I've never seen fruit, but the flowers are similar to some local yellow plums that flower in spring. Here are some photographs of the tree that I just took, some of the leaves are quite grubby.
ImageImage
Image Image

Here are the Hawthorns. The trunk of the parent tree splits at the base and both air-layers are from different splits. It's quite an old Hawthorn and was squashed by an Oak a good 15 years ago. The photograph on the left shoots out from a larger trunk as seen which joins the base (where the trunk splits.) not to far from out of shot on left. The photograph on the right is a horizontal layer which is at the end of a much longer branch. The main trunk to which this branch comes from is seen to the top of the photograph on the left.
ImageImage

I reckon they are probably calloused up.

The pear...yeah good point. It's producing roots so success. I was just expecting more, for example say the layer is 3 inches long the roots appear to have formed at the base. My concern is that this increases the space between the soil line and first branch. Sorry I didn't take a photograph and can't be arsed to pop back down. But I'm sure its fine.
Author:  stymie [ 11 Aug 2015, 22:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
Tip. Cover the plastic covered layers with something to exclude the light which discourages roots. I use either black plastic or silver paper. This can be lifted from time to time to examine for signs of roots without disturbing the clear plastic holding the sphagnum.
Author:  paulpash [ 12 Aug 2015, 10:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
If you are wanting to grow Junipers too as bonsai just be aware that Pears act as hosts for Gymnosporangium sabinae which causes blobby growth and cankers on Juniper stems. You might not get Pear Rust (which can then infect junipers too) but IMO I'd not have a pear in my collection because of this.

My Hawthorn air layer is the only layer not showing roots so you're not alone .... I've separated 5 acers and a Pyracantha yesterday which had bags full of root. I did a cotoneaster and swamp cypress air layer later then the others (early May) so these will probably will take several more weeks before harvesting time.

Foliage mass above the layer point will power rooting. Make sure you have sufficient leaf volume for each layer point as all the starches from the leaves will pool and stop at the cut. I did 2 layers on the same maple but used different branches for this reason. Once you separate make sure it is tightly secured into it's container and watered thoroughly. If you are putting it into a pond basket a good method (I learnt this from Sputnik) is long wooden bbq skewers. Thanks, Sputnik :)
Author:  olly [ 12 Aug 2015, 16:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
This is a Wisteria air layer. should i remove it now or wait a bit

Image

Image
Author:  Bill [ 12 Aug 2015, 16:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
it looks like a prunus species anyway. the thorns are sometimes not that noticeable on blackthorn, i.e. they don't produce a small thorn at every new node like hawthorn. new shoots will often not have any thorns, i have 3 in training and not a single thorn between them but you should be able to find some on a free growing tree.

the hawthorn are young branches but it seems from the pics that they might not be getting great light, which may be a factor in them being slow to root.
Author:  Bill [ 12 Aug 2015, 16:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Air-layer questions
olly wrote:
This is a Wisteria air layer. should i remove it now or wait a bit

i would remove that now
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