Multiple air-layer on Japanese Maple

[quodlibet_ens]

Come spring, once I see some budding on this Japanese Maple, I was thinking of performing a multiple air-layer. Would a tree this size have the energy to undergo multiple air-layers?

I've attached photos with my proposed layers.

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[Ray M]

Come spring, once I see some budding on this Japanese Maple, I was thinking of performing a multiple air-layer. Would a tree this size have the energy to undergo multiple air-layers?

Hi Nathan,
The tree should be fine to do the layers. It is important that each layer has it's own branch and foliage. After the layers are removed the stock tree should recover very well and give you another tree.

Regards Ray

[quodlibet_ens]

It is important that each layer has it's own branch and foliage.

Thanks Ray!

Yeah, each section will have it own branches and foliage. I'm hoping once I've cut each section off that it will encourage some back budding. Some of the branches have longish internodes.

Cheers,
Nathan.



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[Ray M]

It is important that each layer has it's own branch and foliage.

Thanks Ray!
Yeah, each section will have it own branches and foliage. I'm hoping once I've cut each section off that it will encourage some back budding. Some of the branches have longish internodes.
Cheers,
Nathan.

Hi Nathan,
Once the layers are well established and you remove them it is the same as starting with a new tree. You will be able to cut back and develop new branching as you require.

The following couple of photos will give you some idea of the root system you will be able to get with your airlayers.

Image-3.jpg

Image-4.jpg

Regards Ray

[shibui]

I'm hoping once I've cut each section off that it will encourage some back budding. Some of the branches have longish internodes.

I hope you are not expecting back budding between internodes Nathan. Some trees will bud anywhere on the trunk but as far as I know, maples will only ever produce buds where there once was a node. Buds just won't appear in between, no matter how much you want them to.
I was going to reply earlier that I don't really think this material is worth layering. For the time, and materials you'll use you could buy trees and grow them to the same size in the same time it will take to layer these however, you'll enjoy the experience and learn lots so there's value in that even if you don't get really great bonsai from it.
One good thing about layering is that you often get a great radial root system. Most of the branches that are layered are stiff and awkward without real bonsai potential though and it's hard to fix that afterwards.

[quodlibet_ens]

I hope you are not expecting back budding between internodes Nathan. Some trees will bud anywhere on the trunk but as far as I know, maples will only ever produce buds where there once was a node. Buds just won't appear in between, no matter how much you want them to.
I was going to reply earlier that I don't really think this material is worth layering. For the time, and materials you'll use you could buy trees and grow them to the same size in the same time it will take to layer these however, you'll enjoy the experience and learn lots so there's value in that even if you don't get really great bonsai from it.
One good thing about layering is that you often get a great radial root system. Most of the branches that are layered are stiff and awkward without real bonsai potential though and it's hard to fix that afterwards.

Hmm, solid advice shibui. I'm in two minds now. I picked this particular maple because of its colours ans leaf shape. The top two sections have much shorter internodes, so I may just layer those two and perhaps plant the lower section in the yard.

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