First air layer success

SC1989

Shohin
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Location
Duluth Minnesota
USDA Zone
3
I started this layer a little late....(first air layer attempt) . Six weeks and I chopped it off so I can get it established before winter. probably should have experimented on a cheap subject, but I tend to dive right in. I couldn’t take the graft union. I ‘ll have a thick stump to work with as well. The picture of the layer is only a 4th of the canopy, so I will get lots of material out of this . The top is kiyo hime, easy rooting👍🏻
 

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I’ve read that it’s good to thin out some of the foliage so that the roots don’t have to work extra hard to support them. You should think about maybe doing that! Nice job!!!
 
I’ve read that it’s good to thin out some of the foliage so that the roots don’t have to work extra hard to support them.

It depends, I guess. I airlayered a prunus branch last year and it dropped most of it's leaves after separation. The roots kept growing, however. It even put out some flowers in september.
 
Four days. No dropped leaves. No leaves and crispier than they were before the layer was taken off.
 

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Saw some new growth a couple days ago👍🏻 Some roots trying to poke out the bottom as well .
 

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Are you supposed to new growth on air layers in the same growing season? Should you fertilize an airlayer? I am working with maples by the way.
 
So my Orange Dream air layer has been potted up for a month now and it has no new foliage, none of the leaves are wilted and a few new roots have come up to the surface. Should I fertilize with a very diluted dose of chemicals or should i wait and fertilize in fall with a low nitrogen dose?


DSC_0693.JPG
 
New adventitious roots are just mechanically fragile.

Regardless of the age of the roots, most mineral and water adsorption occurs through the extended walls of individual epidermal cells a few millimeters behind the growing root tip.

Nitrogen is essential for budding.

🤔


btw, I have three Orange Dream air layers, from 4-5 years ago, in bulb/bonsai pots. Only one of them has put out a few new leaves since May.
 
I applied root n grow straight away . 4-10-3. High phosphate for root growth. Idk I’m just winging actually. Oh and a sprinkle of osmocote slow release ..wind protection
 
New adventitious roots are just mechanically fragile.

Regardless of the age of the roots, most mineral and water adsorption occurs through the extended walls of individual epidermal cells a few millimeters behind the growing root tip.

Nitrogen is essential for budding.

🤔


btw, I have three Orange Dream air layers, from 4-5 years ago, in bulb/bonsai pots. Only one of them has put out a few new leaves since May.
My mother Orange Dream is pushing growth like crazy but I have been fertilizing it since separation i hit it with a chemical blue stuff fertilizer 5-5-5 every two weeks, I haven't had much luck with cuttings all but one cutting of 8 are dead. I guess orange Dream isn't as good a propagator as Arakawa or Kotohime which both are doing great as layers and cuttings this year. When should I switch to fall fertilizer in late September early october?
 
My mother Orange Dream is pushing growth like crazy but I have been fertilizing it since separation i hit it with a chemical blue stuff fertilizer 5-5-5 every two weeks, I haven't had much luck with cuttings all but one cutting of 8 are dead. I guess orange Dream isn't as good a propagator as Arakawa or Kotohime which both are doing great as layers and cuttings this year. When should I switch to fall fertilizer in late September early october?
By my experience, this slow growth is par for Orange Dream that was repotted (root combed and pruned) this past spring. Based on past experience, I expect they (and yours) will grow far more vigorously, IOW, it seems they 'like' to be a bit 'root bound'.

I just use Osmocote-Plus. The prills release their contents in a temperature dependent fashion consistent with the plant's needs. I don't try to micromanage it.
 
Separated this birch layer two weeks ago. A little late for up north here, getting 🥶 cold. Honestly forgot about this layer I started in May. I was really surprised cause I heard birch can be tricky to layer. 1st try👍🏻 .
 

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Last pic is as of yesterday. One small branch died but the roots are going mad in the pot
 
Success on the air layers.

Next trick, getting them through the winter.

The fresh air layers on brand new root systems might not take the cold of Duluth MN winter. But if you have a protected area that stays above +10 F, better yet, above +25 F, you should be okay.
 
Success on the air layers.

Next trick, getting them through the winter.

The fresh air layers on brand new root systems might not take the cold of Duluth MN winter. But if you have a protected area that stays above +10 F, better yet, above +25 F, you should be okay.
how is an unheated crawlspace in Western NC?
 
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