Layering Pseudolarix??

thereefgeek

After repeated unsuccessful attempts to graft three "Golden Larch" together at the soil line for a tripple trunk planting, I've been searching all over for info on layering to improve nebari and bring the lowest branch a little closer to the ground. My plan was to wire wrap above the failed grafts all three trees together, and raise the soil level with a temporary fence of plastic mesh. The buds are a ways away from breaking so I figured I'd be patient and absorb as much information as I can in the meantime. Surfing this forum lead me to this thread, http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthread.php?t=10510 and now I'm wondering if my plans with these Pseudolarix are a possibility?


I live outside of Sacramento, CA (Zone 9, not sure about temp zone) and will be following up with pics of what I am working with shortly.
Thanks,
-Rich

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thereefgeek

Here's the three trees, a close up of the union, and the height to which I was planning to raise the soil. I intend to remove the tape from the trunk (the black line is where I was hoping to have the new soil line) and replace a wrap or two for stability above the putty. Hoping to induce rooting above the existing soil line with the wire-winding layer method, root horimone and sphagnum moss. Planning to include a disk of plastic between the existing rootball and the new soil layer to help the new roots spread horizontally. Any thoughts on if this will work?

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rockm

So you're grafting and air laerying three trunk all at the same time?

thereefgeek

No, the graft attempt is from 2 years ago. I opened and inspected it just recently and re-wrapped the trunks in tape to hold them together. My plan is to actually ground layer by wire binding the trunks and raising the soil level.

Sterling

This might seem like a dumb question but did you try putting it in the ground so that you could get more growth out of the little guys? Also what is that grey looking putty in the middle of the wrapping? That might have prevented the trunks from fusing....Maybe I'm wrong, it happens fairly regularly.

Treebeard

Hi Rich,

Looking back at that tree I attempted an airlayer on... I keep wondering if there was something I missed when figuring out what went wrong, but Ican't come up with anything other than that it was just the wrong species to try an airlayer on. I can't remember the details now, but it was one of the first airlayers I tried. Maybe I would have got away with it if it had been larix and not pseudolarix.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Regards,

Chris.

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