Will this work to promote aerial roots?

007

I have a few tropicals that I want to start growing some aerial roots on. I have done some reading on it, but there really is a shortage of literature out there on the subject. Here is what I plan to do. Please tell me if there are better/more effective ways.

Basicall, I am just going to wrap the area with moistened long fiber sphagnum moss and let the roots grow. On branches, I will nick the bottom first and apply a touch of root hormone where I want the root.

Sound like a good plan?

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Jerry Meislik

This should work very well with Ficus and Schefflera.
Jerry

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Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.us/

007

Good! Because thats exactly what I did on my ficus and schefflera.

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Aaron_K

Yup, just use an airlayering technique at the base of the branch. Using the moss and hormone powder should work fine. I have read, I think it was in one of Chan's books, that some people use Vitamin B1 to soak the moss in, although this could be introduced at anytime once roots have established.

RonMartin(deceased)

I would listen to Jerry.
Hi did after all write a book on ficus bonsai. And a darn good one at that.

diatribe

I have used your proposed method on both species of tree. but i found once the moss was removed it was difficult to get the roots all the way down into the soil.(this depends on how high the branch you are trying to get roots off of is) after the roots formed i used a clear plastic cup with the bottom cut outand placed it on top of the soil and filled it with soil and let the roots grow down into the pot,(the cup is clear so its easy to follow the progress) then simply cut away the cup and pick out the soil and you will find plenty of nice fat roots to chose from.
hope this lil trick helps.
Peace.
Diatribe.

Aaron_K

Thats a neat little trick there Diatribe. One to commit to memory I am sure

Dale Cochoy

Mr. Bond....James Bond....

I notice you are from Michigan, so you will notice that if you get some arial roots started in michigan during the summer that don't quite get to the soil before bringing them in during the winter that they will probably dry up during winter ( unless you have a nice humid greenhouse for them in winter).
so, try this.
you'll find that if you see a root forming in summer you can take a plastic straw, slit it lenthwise with a razor blade, slip it over the root and stick the end into the soil after you cut to length. The root will travel down the tube ( which you can also direct where you want it) until it reaches soil. After it takes hold you remove the straw. I've done this many times in ohio and roots grow quickly in girth once anchored. You can also leave the straw UN-slit if you wish to help the humidity in there but you have to be careful when slitting it later to remove.
Also,
You can take an existing branch which you might have left grow long and lanky and simply strip off the leaves and bend it down and anchor in the soil and it will probably root.I've done this a few times ( with Ficus and arboricola only on my part) and it worked. I stripped bark off the buried part a bit and applied rooting hormone, but, I don't know if that was needed/helped or not, but, like I said, it worked on ficus and arbs..
Regards,
Dale

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If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
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Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio