bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Air layer hasn't gone well

If I may, I wish to be critical of this process, because I think it can be Beneficial to consider the outcome. The goal was to attempt a trunk airlayer, simply to achieve an additional tree if I am understanding correctly. This layer was not performed because of a desirable section that provided some defintite artistic merit worth spending an entire season and year's time in investment.

It now appears not to have gone as planned. Yet, the consideration now is how to spend yet another year to perform the same thing?

I have often seen it written in internet forums, and know that among lesser experienced bonsai practioners, that airlayering is seen as a way of increasing one's stock. While this is certainly true, I would suggest it should never be the primary or the only consideration to perform this kind of operation. It simply requires to much of an investment in time. The principle reason to perform this kind of an operation is to produce a desirable outcome that will lead to a dramatic reduction in time to produce a bonsai from the material.

To apply this thought process to the material at hand, the trunk layer should be considered if the material to be layered off has potential to be bonsai. For example dramatic taper or movement. In which case one would cut off the upper portion of the trunk above where the desired height would be, and focus on layering that portion of material which is to be the bonsai. In this case one does not need to worry how to store the excess height of the trunk that is not to be utilized in this project.

I offer this for public consideration with respect to the author of this thread, because I feel it is important to consider the aspects of what is to be achieved.
This response is in no way intended to be derogatory of the author or his intentions.

15-Sep-2006	#9
Ralph BonsaiTalk Master B.S.er Join Date: Jun-2002 Location: Richardson, Texas Country: God Bless America USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 9 Posts: 1,285	If I may, I wish to be critical of this process, because I think it can be Beneficial to consider the outcome. The goal was to attempt a trunk airlayer, simply to achieve an additional tree if I am understanding correctly. This layer was not performed because of a desirable section that provided some defintite artistic merit worth spending an entire season and year's time in investment. It now appears not to have gone as planned. Yet, the consideration now is how to spend yet another year to perform the same thing? I have often seen it written in internet forums, and know that among lesser experienced bonsai practioners, that airlayering is seen as a way of increasing one's stock. While this is certainly true, I would suggest it should never be the primary or the only consideration to perform this kind of operation. It simply requires to much of an investment in time. The principle reason to perform this kind of an operation is to produce a desirable outcome that will lead to a dramatic reduction in time to produce a bonsai from the material. To apply this thought process to the material at hand, the trunk layer should be considered if the material to be layered off has potential to be bonsai. For example dramatic taper or movement. In which case one would cut off the upper portion of the trunk above where the desired height would be, and focus on layering that portion of material which is to be the bonsai. In this case one does not need to worry how to store the excess height of the trunk that is not to be utilized in this project. I offer this for public consideration with respect to the author of this thread, because I feel it is important to consider the aspects of what is to be achieved. This response is in no way intended to be derogatory of the author or his intentions. __________________ Emerging from winter slumber Bonsai trees burst buds anew Spring is upon us! -Paul S.