AusBonsai

I have a fantastic Deshojo that I planted in the back yard. Unfortunately the missus won't let me dig it out for bonsai. There are a few branches that would be suitable for air-layering though. Has anyone had any success, or does anyone have any advice on air-layering a Deshojo? Would love to give it a go this season.

feralpossum wrote: ↑July 29th, 2024, 11:25 am I have a fantastic Deshojo that I planted in the back yard. Unfortunately the missus won't let me dig it out for bonsai. There are a few branches that would be suitable for air-layering though. Has anyone had any success, or does anyone have any advice on air-layering a Deshojo? Would love to give it a go this season.

I know Shindeshojo works, so presumably Deshojo will too.

Have never personally had good results from Deshojo, sample size of half a dozen over the years, but if it’s in your garden you may as well try

TimS wrote: ↑July 29th, 2024, 1:02 pm Have never personally had good results from Deshojo, sample size of half a dozen over the years, but if it’s in your garden you may as well try

+1 to this ... if it's in your yard, nothing to lose (except maybe some time and rooting hormone) but lots to gain, eg knowledge, experience and possibly some new bonsai as a bonus!

So what about best timing? How big a piece of the cambium do I need to take off? Do people just use sphagnum? Do you cover with black plastic? What about watering frequency?

feralpossum wrote: ↑August 14th, 2024, 12:41 pm So what about best timing? How big a piece of the cambium do I need to take off? Do people just use sphagnum? Do you cover with black plastic? What about watering frequency?

I'm just doing a winter cutting ... ie "cut, pour rooting hormone on, stick in soil" ... sounds like you're more asking about air layer techniques? I have a different thread for that. "Cut in Winter", or "Air layer End of Spring" has been my most successful for maples in Sydney.

feralpossum wrote: ↑August 14th, 2024, 12:41 pm So what about best timing? How big a piece of the cambium do I need to take off? Do people just use sphagnum? Do you cover with black plastic? What about watering frequency?

Generally i do my air layers late spring once the first flush hardens off. I ringbark minimum the length that the trunk is wide, usually more like 1.5x up to anything about thumb thickness After that i'd do a couple of inches wide tops. Yup just rooting hormone powder and then wrap in damn sphagnum, i use clear plastic ziplock bags to make it easier to see when the moss is drying out & to check root formation. No real watering frequency but checking a couple of times a week in summer.

I've had some take as little as 4 weeks, i've had some take 8 weeks + and some i've left on for 18 months. Just depends on how much root growth you get and how quickly. My experience is the best balance for setting and removing the layer by winter the following year is around finger thick. Shideshojo has been a royal PITA for me, so good luck and let us know how you get on

Also spring, hormone, damp sphagnum and plastic. I use cling film as it allows me to wrap tightly.
But I add a layer of aluminium foil to keep the sun from cooking the roots. YMMV depending on your local conditions.