AusBonsai

I'm looking at doing an air layer on this thunderhead black pine. I haven't done one before so I was wondering if anyone could point me to any articles/threads/videos that could help me out.
I've found one topic on here that is pretty helpful, but seeing as this is my first time, I want toas much research as I can (despite wanting to just hook in right now)
Is it like repotting and I should only do it at a certain time of year? Split pot, or plastic? Does it more watering than usual?
Any and all help is appreciated.

Not sure about timing.
I do understand that jbp can take a little longer to root though. Ray M (our resident air layer man will know).

I would consider layering above the higher green stake tape if it were mine.
This would remove the straight section with no branches or options.
This leaves a smaller tree with lower branches which could be used to thicken the top section or increase design options.

Personally from what I can see I'd probably leave the tree in tact for another season or so to gain some trunk girth.

Boics wrote:Not sure about timing.
I do understand that jbp can take a little longer to root though. Ray M (our resident air layer man will know).

I would consider layering above the higher green stake tape if it were mine.
This would remove the straight section with no branches or options.
This leaves a smaller tree with lower branches which could be used to thicken the top section or increase design options.

Personally from what I can see I'd probably leave the tree in tact for another season or so to gain some trunk girth.

Cheers mate. Might do that. Only reason I was going to do it low was to do a bunjin style tree.
Yeah as keen as I am to start the layer, I might thicken it some more.

For anyone wondering its size, it's 1m tall, about 3.5cm diameter trunk and where i plan the air layer is about 2cm diameter.

Here are a couple of pics from a JBP layer I set last spring and removed a few weeks ago so about 6 months from start to removal. I probably could have removed it safely earlier but wanted to give it the extra time to be safe. From the pics you can see I used a wire torniquet as well as ringbarking the stem. The wire may not be necessary but I did not want the cut to heal over so added it anyway.
Many people would not comb the sphagnum out of the roots but it does not seem to have hurt this one.

I agree with Boics. Layer closer to the branches. That trunk is far to straight and uniform even for a literati. Have a look at some examples. You will find that the better ones may not have super taper but they do have bends and features in the trunk.

shibui wrote:Here are a couple of pics from a JBP layer I set last spring and removed a few weeks ago so about 6 months from start to removal. I probably could have removed it safely earlier but wanted to give it the extra time to be safe.

JBP air layer 1.JPG

JBP air layer 2.JPG

JBP air layer 3.JPG

From the pics you can see I used a wire torniquet as well as ringbarking the stem. The wire may not be necessary but I did not want the cut to heal over so added it anyway.
Many people would not comb the sphagnum out of the roots but it does not seem to have hurt this one.

I agree with Boics. Layer closer to the branches. That trunk is far to straight and uniform even for a literati. Have a look at some examples. You will find that the better ones may not have super taper but they do have bends and features in the trunk.

Thanks man. I thought they took longer than that. I saw one and they had the layer on for almost a year.
Do you know what times of year are the go? Or do you just need the tree to be healthy?

ma7t wrote:I'm looking at doing an air layer on this thunderhead black pine. I haven't done one before so I was wondering if anyone could point me to any articles/threads/videos that could help me out.
I've found one topic on here that is pretty helpful, but seeing as this is my first time, I want toas much research as I can (despite wanting to just hook in right now)
Is it like repotting and I should only do it at a certain time of year? Split pot, or plastic? Does it more watering than usual?
Any and all help is appreciated.

Hi ma7t,
I appreciate you want to get stuck into doing the layer. I would encourage you to leave it until October. When I have put layers on at this time of year I can take layers off in 4-5 months. If you have a look at Layer Black Pines you will see the results.

I layered some Black Pines in November and they are still not ready to take off. Have a look at More Black PInes

If you could send a reminder about mid September, I'm sure you will get all the advise you need.

Regards Ray

How long it takes to get roots depends on many things. Time of year is only 1 thing that affects it. The age of the wood will affect rooting but yours is very young and vigorous so should root quite quickly like the 1 I did. Health and vigour of the tree will also affect the time taken and the number of roots so keep your trees well fed and watered before and during the layering for better results. Keeping the layered area in top condition is also important. If it dries out rooting will be slower and may even fail. The method you use will also make some differences.There are probably many other factors that will affect time taken and effectiveness too.
Spring and early summer layers always seem to root quickest but often winter layers are still ready to take off at the same time in late summer/autumn as the spring ones - takes longer but still ready at the same time because you started earlier if you understand my convoluted message??

I think I would heed Ray's advice and wait for the optimum time in spring.

Ok, well I'll take Rays advice and I'll bump this up with more than likely some other questions when it gets closer to spring/summer. Guess I'll just sit and look at my tree till then and figure out how I plan my trees to look.

Thanks everyone for your help.

give Ray M a PM. He has written a couple of books that you can buy about air layers. Definitely worth it,

Ok, so I'd like to repot this young lad to help thicken the trunk, by memory I think they're supposed to be done in spring? But I've heard of people doing them in early Autumn (I may be getting confused with Deciduous trees).

Any opinions on the matter?

My opinion is that if your looking to "pot up" in size or put the tree in the ground - I would do this whenever.

If you are cutting roots, bare rooting or doing some serious root re-arranging then maybe you might need to be more careful.

I repotted 3 JBP last night, and did the one from the A.B. Sale day a few weeks ago.

If grant can do them in Canberra a few weeks ago, I sure can here too.
Wiki says Autumn or spring to repot pines. https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... h_month%3F
( as I wrote it), I follow the times on that page and never had a problem )

Ken

Great, thanks again guys. I'd be lost without this site, or at least have a lot of dead trees to account for.

Ok, so I just got done repotting it, any advice to keep it healthy?
No root pruning, all I did was comb out the roots so they can grow outwards, threw a cd under it with a small layer of soil on top to encourage the roots to grow outwards as well. Gave it a good watering and am keeping it in shade.

Anything I'm forgetting?

ma7t wrote:Ok, so I just got done repotting it, any advice to keep it healthy?
No root pruning, all I did was comb out the roots so they can grow outwards, threw a cd under it with a small layer of soil on top What do you mean by a small amount? Make sure the roots have a good covering of soil. to encourage the roots to grow outwards as well. Gave it a good watering and am keeping it in shade. If it's in full shade all day, find a place where it is mottled shade. When you see it's recovering, move it out into the full sun.

Anything I'm forgetting?

Hi ma7t,
Make sure you give it a drink of Seasol a couple of times a week until you see it recovering.

Regards Ray