How much water for a newly chopped air layer?

Kazoo

I have just potted my first air layer. Now I wonder how much water it should have. Being that it has just left an environment of ...constant... wetness in a plastic wrap, should I give it more water for a while in the soil?

I usually watch the soil surface for water timing on the various trees, but have not had a new air layer before.

I potted it with some of the moss still attached.

Natural tendency is for me to think it should get more water for a few days than the established trees just til it gets used to soil instead of moss.

What is correct?

Images are of the root system and the potted layer.

Attached Images

	mapecut3.JPG (27.0 KB, 88 views)
	mapecut4.JPG (37.3 KB, 84 views)

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pootsie

Very nice job!
That's a healthy root system you have there -- but don't drown it!

Give it water just like a normal tree, but try and shade it from too much sun and wind that would dry it out. Try to reduce the transpiration that way rather than flooding the roots.

The normal water content of good bonsai soil should provide enough h2o, and the roots simply won't have the capacity to suck up more than that. They can only suck up what they can, so more available water would just push out the available o2, which they also need.

You may also consider reducing the foliage a little to reduce the burden on the roots.

good luck!
pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

Kazoo

pootsie, I actually took that picture a bit before slightly reducing the foliage.

On the nominal cuts I made, I sealed the snip with some Heal N Seal (a dab on a cotton swab) just to keep them from seeping.

I also gave it a light spray with Cloud Cover (which I'm not sure of but seemed worth a try)

It has dropped a .... few .... leaves. But they were sort of dried out and crinkly even while on the mother tree. It seems fairly stable and so far, the stems look strong and healthy.

BUT....anything that CAN go wrong..... might.

Tough when it's a "first" on anything. My bonsai nursery guy sez to stop LOOKIN at it. And .....relax.

But that ain't me. I want advice like "wax on...wax off" when I consult him.

heh heh

My thinking was just to give it a ......bit..... of "too much" water for the first few days in the dirt. Now on its second day on its own. And, of course....we get 96 degree weather after 60 degrees a week and a half ago....and a few days prior to that..........HAIL !!!

I took it inside to a bright (but not window) place yesterday afternoon when it got sorta "blowtorch hot" outside.

What's he mean, "relax?"

Bonsainut

Go to a hospital and get a vitals monitor. Hook up the pads to the tree so you can monitor the trees vital signs, respiration, photosynthesis, auxin flow, o2 levels, etc.

Or... Relax


Kazoo, Poots gave you good advice. Great job on the airlayer. You have entered a new world of possibilities.

__________________
Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

Kazoo

A few more leaves have dropped.

I will not watch.

I will relax.

OMMMMMMMMMMMMM......OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM, OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,
OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM,OM, OMMM dammit!

There! All limp an relaxed. Suuuure.

pootsie

Just remember Kazoo, drowning the tree will not help it.

Keep the soil moist but not saturated.

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

John Dixon

I'd be more worried if it DIDN'T drop some leaves. It's natural for it to do that. Like pootsie said, your root system is not capable of "normal" efficiency, so you have to make allowances.

Ever take cuttings? Do you keep all the leaves on? No, only a few. Same reason.

Make sure it has moisture available, don't inundate it with a deluge, keep it out of hot sun, and wait. You'll be okay.

Breathe: In through the nose, out of the mouth, repeat as needed.

John

__________________
John Dixon

Si vis pacem parabellum

Stay off the trails of others, that's where the booby-traps are.

Kazoo

My phloem is all stuffed up. Doc said to try Xylem but I'm allergic.

Kazoo

Pootsie (or anyone) would leaf cutting be a desirable way to reduce foliage in this instance?