Trident maple airlayer

onlyrey

This is a Trident Maple from OregonBonsai.com that I bought at a discount together with a larger Japanese Maple (main tree not shown here). This trident maple is about 2" at the base. I decided to airlayer the top hopefully to get a nice shohin. I like the bottom part as well; the trunk has a nice flare at the bottom.

38663 = The tree as it looked today before my "intervention"
38664 = The whole tree as it looked when received from Oregon
38665 = A closeup of the reverse taper

Attached Images

	trident_0_w_leaves.jpg (49.8 KB, 138 views)
	trident_1_whole_size.jpg (51.3 KB, 127 views)
	trident_2_inverted_taper.jpg (45.9 KB, 126 views)

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onlyrey

The steps

38666 = before anything
38667 = ring of bark removed
38668 = the rooting hormone
38669 = added the spaghnum moss
38670 = with the saran wrap (this is actually the most difficult step; this plastic has a life of its own)
38671 = aluminum foil to prevent the light in

Attached Images

	trident_inverted_detail3.jpg (38.3 KB, 89 views)
	trident_inverted_detail2.jpg (47.5 KB, 129 views)
	trident_inverted_detail1.jpg (51.8 KB, 68 views)
	trident_inverted_detail4.jpg (41.8 KB, 97 views)
	trident_inverted_detail5.jpg (30.0 KB, 86 views)
	trident_inverted_detail6.jpg (43.9 KB, 73 views)

simoncruden

Hey Looks Good To Me But Its Going To Be Difficult To Remove After It Roots-your Growing Roots Where You Want To Cut So Be Very Care Full The Root Are Very Brittle

Ralph

Rey,

Is that cut going all the way around the tree? If not, it's going to just utilize the bark that is there and you will get nothing but scarring from where you made that cut.
I think if you were to go this route, you needed to remove those small branches on that big limb your are layering, and make the cut wider, and certainly all the way around. It is important, that the cut is wide enough so the tree just doesnn't end up growing scar tissue to heal the cut.

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onlyrey

Ralph,

Yes, thanks for the observation, the cut goes all the way around. As if I was airlayering a branch.

bonsaial1

That narrow cut will probably heal over before you get roots. You need 1 1/2 times the thickness of the branch you are layering for insurance. I know its a tight spot, but a loop of wire on the top of the cut might help also. Just to keep the area from healing over.

ak

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kvnharv29

ya i agree, your chances of getting a successful layer here got to be around 5%, tops. That cut is just way too narrow. Im not sure if its possible to layer the tree in this spot. Youd be better off trying it further up the trunk, but i would just chop it.
Sorry to rain on your parade.

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onlyrey

bonsaial1,

I'll redo this airlayer tonight and try to improve the chances of success.

Interesting this is the first time I hear the reason behind the 1-1/2 times size of the removed bark. It makes perfect sense.

Thanks

onlyrey

Well, you guys got it right, with the extra stuff that I did to the layering intent it still was not successful. I will try at the end of this spring.

Cleaned it and will try to layer this spring again, this time I will do it using your recommendations.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Attached Images

trident_maple_feb2007.jpg (34.1 KB, 102 views)

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Disclaimer: All my bonsai are beautiful, the pictures lie.