Air Layering A Japanese Maple

Tony

"I'd guess that tree species, general vigor of the upper part (four leaves may be too little, though I don't know that for sure),"

I would agree. Four leaves sounds a little sparse to be doing an air layer. I would be tempted to let the branch grow out for a while without pruning and gain some vigor. There are hormones produced in the terminal buds of branches that are sent back to the roots and in turn this triggers the roots to send more food the lengthening branches. When you do an air layer you interrupt this flow and hormones build up at the layering site. This hormone build up is what triggers the dormant buds to sprout roots. You would have better and quicker success with more growth above the layer.

Tony

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