AusBonsai

Signs of life on another planet ... ah, I mean, on the smaller maple air layer!!!

So excited to see this and had to share with everyone.



- Daniel

Quick photo update, from 4th October ...

Two air layers "trees" together:



Small maple showing many signs of life/leaves:



Only been Seasoling once a week as they don't dry out within a few days, like my smaller potted bonsai do.

- Daniel S

Congrats on the results Daniel.

So glad I found this thread cause I have a large crab apple in my backyard I've been eyeing off to layer as well as a weeping cherry out the front(pink flower). Although the weeping part seems to have been overtaken by the trunk stock (white flower), so I might try layering both parts.

Looking forward to seeing the progress on your two trees.

Cheers

Oh no .... disaster struck!!! Or more precisely the neighbour's palm tree fell with a loud bang landing on my biggest of the two layers!

I still had the twine on it so it's remained in the pot but looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, at about 45 degrees.

Wondering should I (a) repot, (b) slip pot or (c) leave the roots and call it cascade/wind swept?

- Daniel

FruitFly wrote:Congrats on the results Daniel.

So glad I found this thread cause I have a large crab apple in my backyard I've been eyeing off to layer as well as a weeping cherry out the front(pink flower). Although the weeping part seems to have been overtaken by the trunk stock (white flower), so I might try layering both parts.

Looking forward to seeing the progress on your two trees.

Cheers

Hey FruitFly, so glad you've found the thread. Be very excited if it helps avoid the mistakes I've made. Good luck, be sure to start a thread to follow your progress and link it back here?

- Daniel

I still had the twine on it so it's remained in the pot but looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, at about 45 degrees.
Wondering should I (a) repot, (b) slip pot or (c) leave the roots and call it cascade/wind swept?

You can do any of those things at this stage depending on what you want from this tree. It does not seem to bother a recently repotted tree if it is replanted again though I do try not to break off more roots than necessary. Over the years I have had quite a few that have come out of the pot after repotting. Sometimes the roots were exposed for 24 hours or more. Usually I needed to take the plant right out and repot properly and I can't remember losing any of them.

Thanks Shibui! Was worried the freely made air layer roots were damaged by the crushing palm leaf. As it was tied down and stayed in the pot ... might leave it then. Glad to know their fairly resilient. I don't think I'd have faired so well, haha.

Thanks for the speedy reply!

Whoops ... typo, meant "freshly made" not "feely made" hehe

Quick pic update (pre-palm leaf incident):

Large maple:




Smaller maple:



Will try andp photograph the large, now slightly slanty one tomorrow.

- Daniel S

Quick monthly update ...

LARGE MAPLE (now wind-swept/palm tree swept):



SMALL MAPLE (doing surprisingly well):



Brown tipped leaves?! Close up of leaves, seem a bit dry ... have now moved these guys to be in shade for a few days. Should I put them back in full Sun and just be sure to mist them? Any tips (pun intended)???



Thanks for following,
Daniel

legoman_iac wrote:Quick monthly update ...

LARGE MAPLE (now wind-swept/palm tree swept):



SMALL MAPLE (doing surprisingly well):



Brown tipped leaves?! Close up of leaves, seem a bit dry ... have now moved these guys to be in shade for a few days. Should I put them back in full Sun and just be sure to mist them? It wouldn't hurt to have them in the shad for a few days. I wouldn't mist the trees. Water the soil well and give them a dose of Seasol a couple of times a week until you see them recovering. The soil looks a little dry to me. Once you see good recovery you could introduce some liquid fertilizer. Personally I alternate between Charlie Carp and Powerfeed. After good growth is obvious I would give them a feed of Seamungus. Any tips (pun intended)???



Thanks for following,
Daniel

Regards Ray

Thanks Ray, great to hear. I photographed them just prior to watering. Time to get some fertiliser then!

Should I remove/defoliate the dried leaves?

If the leaves have green on them they are still working for the plant. Cut them off and it will need to find more stored resources to grow new ones.
Even though they don't look great leave them alone and let the tree get on with growing. Just concentrate on watering and feeding it to get strength back. Next year will be soon enough for pruning anything.

shibui wrote:If the leaves have green on them they are still working for the plant. Cut them off and it will need to find more stored resources to grow new ones.
Even though they don't look great leave them alone and let the tree get on with growing. Just concentrate on watering and feeding it to get strength back. Next year will be soon enough for pruning anything.

Hi Daniel,
Great advise from shibui.

So leave the leaves alone? Easy. Done. Hehe, thanks!