I’ve got a lot of air layering to do. What are the risks of starting an air layer now, even though it won’t make it finish any faster in the spring?

[Veebs]

As the title says, I’m mainly just wanting to do the work to get it done, or do some of it, as I’m going to have my hands full with other tasks around optimal air layering season.

 

[leatherback]

the top can get ninfected and / or the tree can decide to kill it off.
Does not make a lot of sense to do it now.

 

[Dav4]

As the title says, I’m mainly just wanting to do the work to get it done, or do some of it, as I’m going to have my hands full with other tasks around optimal air layering season.

In a perfect world, layers are separated before winter cold sets in. I've started layers in 7b GA in late August that were successfully removed by early to mid October. As said above, you're asking for trouble starting one right before the tree begins dormancy. The ideal timing is either right after the spring flush has hardened off... but I've had equal success performing it right as buds are swelling. For you, that's probably some time next February? Anyway, those are probably the best times to start a layer, and now is probably the worst

 

[Bonsai_hope]

I’ve done a significant amount of air layering both on landscape and bonsai. It’s my understanding that the leaves must be sending sugars to the roots to get the interrupted section of bark to create roots. Even if there is still photosynthesis going on I doubt that it’s going to work. However, a number of years ago the head arborist at the Barnes Foundation Arboretum in Philadelphia told me that he has seen some strange things. Why not experiment with one or two and see how they turn out. I’d be interested in hearing the results.

 

[BrightsideB]

You could spend all that time now and have little success. Or spend it when the time is more optimal with more success. I tend to think there is a reason people do things at certain times. Because failure at others is more common. And the physiological aspects are more prime at certain temperatures and conditions.

But you could still do the experiment now and let us know later so we have more anecdotal data to see.

Sometimes rushing things ends up putting us back further. I’m guilty !

 

[Jetson1950]

I’ve done a significant amount of air layering both on landscape and bonsai. It’s my understanding that the leaves must be sending sugars to the roots to get the interrupted section of bark to create roots. Even if there is still photosynthesis going on I doubt that it’s going to work. However, a number of years ago the head arborist at the Barnes Foundation Arboretum in Philadelphia told me that he has seen some strange things. Why not experiment with one or two and see how they turn out. I’d be interested in hearing the results.

Absolutely correct. If you start with a tree nut, there is just enough carbohydrates in the nut to make the first root. The first root will have enough energy left to make the first pair of leaves. Those two leaves will make enough carbohydrates through photosynthesis to make the next roots which make the next leaves and so on. If you air layer and the tree is evergreen in winter, you might have success because the leaves can still produce carbohydrates to make roots. If the tree is deciduous and drops all its leaves, chances are very slim there is enough energy left in the limbs above the air layer to grow new roots. I would definitely wait till spring.

 

[BrightsideB]

Absolutely correct. If you start with a tree nut, there is just enough carbohydrates in the nut to make the first root. The first root will have enough energy left to make the first pair of leaves. Those two leaves will make enough carbohydrates through photosynthesis to make the next roots which make the next leaves and so on. If you air layer and the tree is evergreen in winter, you might have success because the leaves can still produce carbohydrates to make roots. If the tree is deciduous and drops all its leaves, chances are very slim there is enough energy left in the limbs above the air layer to grow new roots. I would definitely wait till spring.

After the tree starts dropping leaves and enters dormancy. It has the most energy stores throughout the entire tree at any point in the year. I think he is curious if the layer would survive the winter to start growing roots in spring. Sounds like he is uncertain if he has time to get to the layers at the more optimal time during spring.