Air Layering

TreeBay

When you make an air layer, you cut down through the cambium and phloem all the way to the wood. It usually takes a tree a couple of years to start making discernible wood.

If the twig is 2 years or fewer, you would probably be better off taking cuttings. If you do take cuttings, be sure to include a few nodes (growth points that can be identified by leaf buds) and make the final cut at the bottom very sharp and cut at a slight angle. Dip in rooting hormone and plant in well drained medium. Timing for this is critical, and varies from early spring to mid summer in very humid areas.

A dip in rooting hormone plus top mist and bottom heat help with cuttings quite a bit.

Back to layers - Some trees layer quickly and more easily than others. But in a past issue of Bonsai Today, a cryptomeria (Japanese Red Cedar) of more than a foot across was successfully layered. It's often helpful to begin with easy-to-root species to get more confidence and experience before moving on to the difficult ones.

Wisteria, elm and willow are easy rooters. Most pines and many other conifers are not. Before the advent of rooting hormones, folks used to use "willow water" as a rooting catalyst.

You can find more info about cuttings in bonsaiTALK Links (search under CUTTINGS) and in the ***FAQ*** under propagation. There are also a few examples of successful air layering projects and step-by-steps in the forum. Use the Search on the forum on LAYER and look for posts by bonsaial1 and ripsgreentree with the word LAYER in the title.

Good luck!

Matt

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