Some Air Layering Experiments
Posted: October 8th, 2022, 3:31 pm
Hello there, new to the community here but really excited about joining.
In between the deluges in Melbourne yesterday I decided to take my first try at air layering.
I thought I'd share what I've done, and how it goes. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.
The first tree I tried it on is a new Chinese Elm, it's been pumping out growth since I repotted it after buying. (I've moved all my baby bonsai's into grow pots, both to encourage thickness and growth, and because I'm a beginner and the heatwaves in summer will be brutal, more soil means I have a greater margin for error on the 40c days.) I believe the tree will look better if I take off the middle branch as it diminishes the taper effect from root to crown.
So I've given it a go.
For such a small tree I found some 30ml dressing containers at my local $2 shop, poked a bunch of holes in the bottom, and cut a slit for the trunk.
For substrate for all of these air layers I've used a mix of peat moss and perlite.
I've had bad luck using spaghnum moss on anything but my carnivorous plants, it seems to either stay way too wet and drown the plant, or soak all the water intended for the plant into itself and leave the plant thirsty.
I was looking to try coconut coir on at least one of these, but 3 local Bunnings were all out, so peat moss it is.
Some photos of the Chinese Elm
I've also tried this process on a neglected lilypilly that's been growing despite the lack of care.
I think the base could make a nice open base for a bonsai tree one day, especially with all the growth it's been shooting out this spring.
I apparently have a thing for twin trunks as both my Chinese elm air layer and this Lilly pilly air layer are (hopefully) going to give me some twin trunk trees to develop if I'm successful.
Pictures of the Lilly Pilly.
The tree I have
The tree I want
The air layer
Finally, and on a bit of a whim, I've tried on an olive. This olive was given to me as a rescue plant by my sister who couldn't be bothered caring for it. It's since flourished as it's grown and last year gave me its first fruits.
I can't see a clear amazing tree here, but I'm interested in both olives as bonsai and air layering, so I figured I'd give it a crack on a branch that gives me a lot of future options if the air layer is successful.
Pictures of the olive.
I'm taking inspiration from 'Growing Bonsai by Jelle' and used small seedling pots to hold the moss, allowing me to water and check on the air layers easily. I wonder if anyone here has strong opinions for or against this? Or for or against the tightly wrapped glad wrap?
I'm somewhat worried about a closed gladwrap set up drying out, or growing mould instead of roots, which is why I've opted for the more open pot option. Though the air layer on my Chinese elm does have a lid.
So now to sit back and wait 2 months and see what happens. I'm very excited and I really really hope they strike.
If I may ask a question of some of the more experienced growers here, when do you seperate your air layers? My reading tells me early summer, is this still a good option in a SE Aussie climate where our mid summers reach over 40c several days in a row? Or should I leave it on the parent tree for the heat waves and look for a cooler week to seperate the air layers?
We'll see if the clear v white v black pots make any difference. The olive and lilypilly trees are in quite a sunny spot in my backyard. One pot reflecting get and one pot absorbing heat might make a difference? Who knows? But I can't wait to find out, I find the whole air layering process fascinating and I just wanted to give it a go
Thanks for reading my post, feedback, suggestions and discussion very welcomed.
In between the deluges in Melbourne yesterday I decided to take my first try at air layering.
I thought I'd share what I've done, and how it goes. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.
The first tree I tried it on is a new Chinese Elm, it's been pumping out growth since I repotted it after buying. (I've moved all my baby bonsai's into grow pots, both to encourage thickness and growth, and because I'm a beginner and the heatwaves in summer will be brutal, more soil means I have a greater margin for error on the 40c days.) I believe the tree will look better if I take off the middle branch as it diminishes the taper effect from root to crown.
So I've given it a go.
For such a small tree I found some 30ml dressing containers at my local $2 shop, poked a bunch of holes in the bottom, and cut a slit for the trunk.
For substrate for all of these air layers I've used a mix of peat moss and perlite.
I've had bad luck using spaghnum moss on anything but my carnivorous plants, it seems to either stay way too wet and drown the plant, or soak all the water intended for the plant into itself and leave the plant thirsty.
I was looking to try coconut coir on at least one of these, but 3 local Bunnings were all out, so peat moss it is.
Some photos of the Chinese Elm
I've also tried this process on a neglected lilypilly that's been growing despite the lack of care.
I think the base could make a nice open base for a bonsai tree one day, especially with all the growth it's been shooting out this spring.
I apparently have a thing for twin trunks as both my Chinese elm air layer and this Lilly pilly air layer are (hopefully) going to give me some twin trunk trees to develop if I'm successful.
Pictures of the Lilly Pilly.
The tree I have
The tree I want
The air layer
Finally, and on a bit of a whim, I've tried on an olive. This olive was given to me as a rescue plant by my sister who couldn't be bothered caring for it. It's since flourished as it's grown and last year gave me its first fruits.
I can't see a clear amazing tree here, but I'm interested in both olives as bonsai and air layering, so I figured I'd give it a crack on a branch that gives me a lot of future options if the air layer is successful.
Pictures of the olive.
I'm taking inspiration from 'Growing Bonsai by Jelle' and used small seedling pots to hold the moss, allowing me to water and check on the air layers easily. I wonder if anyone here has strong opinions for or against this? Or for or against the tightly wrapped glad wrap?
I'm somewhat worried about a closed gladwrap set up drying out, or growing mould instead of roots, which is why I've opted for the more open pot option. Though the air layer on my Chinese elm does have a lid.
So now to sit back and wait 2 months and see what happens. I'm very excited and I really really hope they strike.
If I may ask a question of some of the more experienced growers here, when do you seperate your air layers? My reading tells me early summer, is this still a good option in a SE Aussie climate where our mid summers reach over 40c several days in a row? Or should I leave it on the parent tree for the heat waves and look for a cooler week to seperate the air layers?
We'll see if the clear v white v black pots make any difference. The olive and lilypilly trees are in quite a sunny spot in my backyard. One pot reflecting get and one pot absorbing heat might make a difference? Who knows? But I can't wait to find out, I find the whole air layering process fascinating and I just wanted to give it a go
Thanks for reading my post, feedback, suggestions and discussion very welcomed.