Could this be a root??? Dogwood airlayer attempt

[Littlefish]

Hi nuts, longtime lurker, first time (meaningfully) posting. Was hoping one of you with dogwood air layering experience could chime in on if this looks like I’m in the right track?

I scraped this guy maybe even a year ago, left it for a long time after nothing was happening, wrapped in spagnum moss. checked it early spring and the bark had reconnected, so scraped it cleanly again, maybe in March, re-wrapped. Jusy checked today and it looks like this, callus seems to have formed and there are two little Bugs Bunny looking teeth things that I’m hoping could be baby roots???

It was high noon so the photography is not great, but I think you can see here what I mean. It’s rewrapped with peat til the end of the summer, but was wondering if you think I should get my hopes up.

Also, if they do grow, am planning to put in a smaller pond basket with mostly pumice and a little of the sandy soil from around here, maybe in September if this succeeds.

Total amateur so just wanted to check with you guys if anyone has any time or patience. Have been practicing for about 3 years just messing with young trees from around my house and garden center. Haven’t killed anything yet except for one oak branch (foolish dive in) but can’t say I know what I’m doing either.

Love the forum, thanks for being here and sharing so much!

Carson
Kill Devil Hills NC

 

[BrianBay9]

You should see roots coming out of the callus, if you have any. Pic is not good enough to tell. Certainly not ready to separate yet.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Callus first, roots eventually. In my northern Illinois experience roots will come in August and September, as night temps cool. Most deciduous root in 24 months or less, usually if air layer put on in early summer, roots by autumn. But, it can take longer, and if bridging occurs, that stalls the process. Scraping restarts the process. I had some JBP layers take as much as 4 years, and eventually success. So don't worry. Keep checking for bridging every few months.

you should be using long fiber sphagnum moss. Not peat moss as the rooting media packed around the layer. Sphagnum is "fresh" in that iit is moss that has been dried, but not compressed and decomposed. Sphagnum is relatively neutral in pH. Peat is decades old, somewhat decomposed and has a definite acidic pH. Low pH can inhibit root formation.

 

[Littlefish]

Callus first, roots eventually. In my northern Illinois experience roots will come in August and September, as night temps cool. Most deciduous root in 24 months or less, usually if air layer put on in early summer, roots by autumn. But, it can take longer, and if bridging occurs, that stalls the process. Scraping restarts the process. I had some JBP layers take as much as 4 years, and eventually success. So don't worry. Keep checking for bridging every few months.

you should be using long fiber sphagnum moss. Not peat moss as the rooting media packed around the layer. Sphagnum is "fresh" in that iit is moss that has been dried, but not compressed and decomposed. Sphagnum is relatively neutral in pH. Peat is decades old, somewhat decomposed and has a definite acidic pH. Low pH can inhibit root formation.

Great, thank you for this info about the moss differences too.

 

[Littlefish]

You should see roots coming out of the callus, if you have any. Pic is not good enough to tell. Certainly not ready to separate yet.

You’re right this pic is pretty garbage. Not sure these white things are coming out of the callus. Will check again in a few months, hopefully will have something more exciting to report back. Thanks for taking the time to respond