Have You Done Any Air Layering

Hi

Has anyone done any 'Air Layering' (hope I got the terminology right) I am trying to do this for the first time, I am not sure it has worked and I don't want to open the box yet in case I cause damage to any roots which might have taken.

Has anyone tried this and did you have any success and what was it you air layered.

 

Yes, we do plenty this time of year, but wanted to let you know, gone are the days of messy fiddling around with moss and clingfilm, or cutting old pots and taping, I found these pods on facebook last year, they come in 3 sizes at present, s,m,l, the one in the photo's below is a medium size, and is ample for shrubs with a branch diameter of 1/2 inch.



They are so quick and easy to use, fill either side with your damp compost or soil mix, ring the branch, put the pod in place close, flick the catch over and done.



Here is a piccy of one in place on an Enkianthus, there is a spout at the top for watering, and a drainage hole in the base, so much quicker, and £25 for 10 including shipping from the US.

 

Many thanks for your guidance, I found these in case others are looking to do something similar


5pcs Plant Rooting Device High Pressure Propagation Ball Box Grafting | eBay

 

There are various ways of attaching growing medium around the ring barked branch.

One of the easiest ways is to make a small pouch of growing medium (like the shape of a mini sand bag) by filling a small plastic bag and tying it off. Use a transparent bag if you want to visually check the progress of the root formation.

Cut a slit in the pouch and mould it around the branch. Then either tie it with string or tape it into place.

If your mix of growing medium is likely to develop algae then wrap foil or black plastic around the ball to exclude sunlight from falling onto the growing medium.

 

How times have changed. I remember enduring pain and discomfort produced by, kneeling, squating whatever, buding roses. Then grafting various plants etc. In time one became better at the actual art, but the waxing,covering and tying with bass (raffia) are now distant history.

Now the advent of plastic in its various forms, has become in a way, the gardeners saviour. In a sense whatever task you embark upon, mister plastic steps in and plays a part. Thankfully for us, this is a good practical use of plastic, contary to the wasteful worldwide damage that common plastic produces. Enough said.

 

I have placed an order for five medium sized propagating spheres, but is this the correct time of the year to be doing air layering.

 

That's interesting @Cuttings ..I still do the moss and clingfilm business .

 

My only attempt at air layering was with a rubber plant many years ago.
Then following what the book said.
Turns out they grow easily from normal cuttings.

 

Tying plants with Bass takes me back too, several decades, @Mike Allen.
We used to use 'Lorraine' Begonias for floral decorating when I was at Enfield Parks.

I have air layered Ficus and others in the distant past but never on any scale.

 

I always do mine in Autumn, well 2nd half of August, then September start a 0-10-10 feed, repeat October, depending on species, cut late October, pot up, and over winter in a glasshouse.

 

I ordered a couple of drainpipe fittings from China through ebay, ordered 10th August, received saturday 15th. I do another round in February, but these need base heat to 14 degrees C, and a bit of extra light usually for 16 hours a day, but its easier for me, having 2 hot tables, 2 metres wide x 30 metres long, with 2 rows of LEDs.

 

This was originally an air layered branch that I took from a full sized greengage tree back in 2017.



It was too lanky so I air layered it again earlier in June to make two shorter trees.


Severed today.


Potted up in spent multipurpose compost.



I may need to clip off more leaves in order to reduce demand on the roots but for now I will just keep an eye on it.

 

I have ordered them from the UK now, they should be here by next week.

 

Looks ok to me, although I would remove the lowest branch on the right (in your pic), for asthetic reasons.