Alder air layer progress. With pics…

[Sootys trees]

I’ve found very few in fact only one experience of someone recording results of an alder air layer so I’m happy to show my progress after 6 weeks or so on this alder I air layered this spring.

It’s been around 6 weeks or so since I started this, it’s a 2-3 foot high tree, very healthy and has had some really nice growth and produced lots of new buds and foliage this year.

Above the layer is very strong and healthy with the same amount of growth and foliage as the rest of the tree, after checking it earlier the moss was very wet from all the rain the UK has had.
So I rung it out and applied a nice coating of clonex gel above the layer and on the callus tissue before wrapping it back up.

Given that alder love water and live on river beds I’m assuming the excess water in the moss has not held the progress back, but I may be wrong.

Does anyone have experience with this species? Specifically air layer related?

Im guessing with a few weeks more this will produce some nice roots? Especially with it being late spring and the large amounts of callus it’s produced.

I’m hoping to separate and pot this up within a month and get some nice root development before putting it in winter protection later this year.

So does anyone think I’ll maybe get roots soon ?

Pics …

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

It looks like it's ready to produce roots soon, yes.
But my alders from seed, when given enough room, are about a meter tall after a year. I see no reason to air layer them, since they can bud from basically anywhere and hacking a seedling back is not really an issue for them.

It's a fun species and very forgiving so do keep on going and keep us posted!

 

[Sootys trees]

It looks like it's ready to produce roots soon, yes.
But my alders from seed, when given enough room, are about a meter tall after a year. I see no reason to air layer them, since they can bud from basically anywhere and hacking a seedling back is not really an issue for them.

It's a fun species and very forgiving so do keep on going and keep us posted!

Yes! I’m thinking and hoping it will, as it almost looks as though some tips are pushing through right now.

It will make a nice two trunk bonsai if it’s successful so I’m quite excited

A meter of growth in one year from a seedling is very satisfying to watch I bet,

I’ve seen some really nice mature bonsai with this species regardless of their large leaves, I’ll most definitely post the results and hopefully ongoing development

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Jeremy has nicer alders than I have. @jeremy_norbury

The growth is satisfying indeed but also difficult to control. I'm playing around with defoliation to see if I can get the leaf size down.
A bunch of mine are destined for replanting a forest so I'm growing them in those fabric bags in a tub of low standing water and they seem to love it.

 

[Sootys trees]

Cool, I’ll take a look at his account,

Yes they are very vigorous, I don’t have experience of bringing down leaf size yet but will need some in the future for this,
Im sure the defoliating will slow down/weaken the tree a little and keep the growth smaller and more compact though, bringing down the leaf size?

I’m thinking they look well proportioned as larger bonsai to match the leaves also, or maybe some kind of weeping style.

A forest sounds nice, and rarely seen apart from full size ones.
It’s nice to know I won’t have to worry about over watering , mine is actually currently in the ground and seems to love the rain

 

[Sootys trees]

Some substantial roots are beginning to form on this alder airlayer.
It’s very tempting to separate it right now and see how it does on its own, but I think the best thing to do would be to wait a few more weeks until August, not sure though ?
Any suggestions?

 

[99 Mile Creek]

Looking great!

 

[Jrmcmich]

I separated 2 a few weeks back at advise I got here. Both are doing well after separating. I did Remove some foliage of one of them as there was too much top for roots to support but I would Have needed to trim back anyways. Good luck and nice to see some good roots

 

[Sootys trees]

I separated 2 a few weeks back at advise I got here. Both are doing well after separating. I did Remove some foliage of one of them as there was too much top for roots to support but I would Have needed to trim back anyways. Good luck and nice to see some good roots

Great, I’ll have a look soon and make sure there’s enough roots, sure it’ll be fine

 

[Sootys trees]

I had another look at the roots earlier, they said Spain 0 - England 6 …

No , the moss has many smaller roots coming out too, it’s looking very strong so I’m very excited to separate and have an additional tree

 

[Sootys trees]

I decided to separate today, very warm day even in the shade so should help the roots establish.
Used perlite, potting soil, sphagnum from the layer and some ericaceous soil with sand for the substrate, wired in a pot a couple inches larger than the root ball and watered moderately, it’s now in shade until I see new growth.



Lots of roots, moss came off very easily.
I’m going with alder likening to really moist soil so overwatering shouldn’t be a problem seeing as it’s in the shade.

 

[Sootys trees]

 

[Sootys trees]

Thinking about it now I may have been able to cut the air layer in two given that both stems have roots, but for now let’s see how this does

 

[99 Mile Creek]

Thinking about it now I may have been able to cut the air layer in two given that both stems have roots, but for now let’s see how this does

I like the double/triple trunk idea over having two separate trees.

I'm not certain how this will grow and develop, so what I'm visualizing could be entirely different from what you are.

Just my opinion this has more potential as is (more interesting now too).