air layering cork oaks

jeff_quast

Does anyone here have any advise on how to air layer cork oaks?

thanks in advance!

jeff

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Joanie

As a matter of fact.... I was just successful with mine. Gotta find the old thread and pop it up with new info someday soon!

It took two years to get roots, and in the meantime the cut did bridge in places. Make the cut bigger than you expect to, these stinkers can make some really gnarly callus. Make your cut 2x the width of the trunk where you are airlayering, just to be safe.

Instead of the ball of spaghnum, try using a nursery pot with a hole cut in it, and a slit down the side. Fill the nursery pot with spaghnum moss and soil. It is easier to water, because it is going to have to be accessible for two years. After the first year, when I recut the callus, I used the pot and it is much nicer.

While doing the airlayer, let the top grow as much as it wants to. That encourages roots. Don't be at all tempted to trim on the top.

Make sure to turn the tree so that the sun warms different parts of the layer. The warmth encourages root growth. But don't let it get really hot either.

Good luck!
Joanie

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Rock Chester

Well done Joanie, cant wait to see the new lil cork pup.

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Joanie

It's a darned nice little shohin corky up top, and the tree was too tall for it's width, so the lower tree will be a spreading oak instead of a tall pine.



Mas Takanashi made it originally, and Ted S. bought it from him. My hubby bought it for me at the Poway auction three years ago. Now it's two trees, or will be soon. Twice as many ways to honor Mas.

Joanie

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jeff_quast

Joanie,

thank you for the advice, I'll give it a try and keep the board posted about the results.

jeff