Air layering liquidambar gumball

[Beano]

I'm tossing up going to get another gumball that I saw. It's graft isn't as nice as my current one but I might need it for future thread grafting. Also I am considering air layering it on the trunk to shorten it.

I've read conflicting stories on when to layer it. The one in the shop is dormant, lots of nice looking buds but bare otherwise (the one at home STILL has leaves). Some say now, some say wait until the new leaves are strong enough to draw water up the xylem (or phloem, can't remember), so in spring.

Also read bougy hasn't successfully layered one, what trouble did you have?

[Bougy Fan]

It was a large tree across the road from my mum's - I used split pots which probably wasn't the best choice as it couldn't be watered every day. I would hesitate to layer it off the rootstock it is on - I would presume the gumball roots aren't as sturdy otherwise they wouldn't bother with a graft.

The best piece of advice I can give you as a beginner is to buy the best stock you can afford once you are comfortable with keeping that species alive. There is no prize for spending 20 years trying to turn a sows ear into a silk purse. Unless you are an S&M freak you are better off getting stock that doesn't need as much work and has many attributes suitable to bonsai.

[Beano]

If I were to layer it, it would be on the trunk below the graft, so it would still be on the root stock. The gumball shape lends itself to a broom shape bonsai, just the rootstock is always too tall (as obviously it wasn't meant to be a bonsai, ha). It is kind of fun seeing what you can get away with on these trees, though an expensive learning curve.