Japanese Maple air layer timing

[Goodroot]

Should be ok. It does suck getting that plastic around, tied, and not lose 5 gallons of moss! Lol

 

[Hack Yeah!]

In the future leave the top, all of the leaves power root growth

 

[Goodroot]

Tight isn’t my choice, but wait and see.

 

[SeanS]

well i finally did one. what a pain in the ass.

is this enough moss to support this size of a layer? i pruned a bunch off the top because i doubt a tiny root ball can support such a big tree. should i open it mid summer and add more material then seal it back up?

i packed the moss in fairly tight. is that good or bad?

As @Hack Yeah! said it’s generally better to leave as much foliage above the layer as possible while it’s trying to generate roots. The existing root ball of the tree is feeding the parts above the layer while it’s still attached to the tree so no need to prune anything off at this point. Once it’s separated you can think about reducing the top if you really need to based on the new roots of the separated air layer.

 

[potatofarmer]

damn well i screwed that up then. hopefully it still goes.

 

[potatofarmer]

holy crap. that looks like a big ass root on the outside of the bag. the top is making loads of new leaves. when do i cut.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

holy crap. that looks like a big ass root on the outside of the bag. the top is making loads of new leaves. when do i cut.

Wait until it looks like the picture in post #22

Well, maybe not quite that long, but you need several roots showing before separation, then protect the new plant from sun and keep it moist. Support it well.

 

[potatofarmer]

Wait until it looks like the picture in post #22

Well, maybe not quite that long, but you need several roots showing before separation, then protect the new plant from sun and keep it moist. Support it well.

fertilizer or no?

so maybe like 3 weeks into july it should be ready?

 

[leatherback]

holy crap. that looks like a big ass root on the outside of the bag. the top is making loads of new leaves. when do i cut.

well done. Now is the critical phase where the roots will drink water from the layer site: Make sure you monitor moisture in there and do not let it get too dry.

I personally am an early separator, but I most summer have cool humid weather..

 

[Dav4]

The best time to separate layers started in spring is generally after the summer heat has broken. For most of us in the northern hemisphere, that'll be mid-August through September and early October. Even if the layer has grown a fair number of roots, you're better off managing the layer on the parent tree until cooler weather prevails. Once the layer is separated, reducing the canopy is ok. Ideally, this will happen at least 4-6 weeks before any freezing weather.

 

[potatofarmer]

The best time to separate layers started in spring is generally after the summer heat has broken. For most of us in the northern hemisphere, that'll be mid-August through September and early October. Even if the layer has grown a fair number of roots, you're better off managing the layer on the parent tree until cooler weather prevails. Once the layer is separated, reducing the canopy is ok. Ideally, this will happen at least 4-6 weeks before any freezing weather.

ok will do since you prob know way more about the best way to do this than i do.

but. wouldn't it be helpful to do it earlier so it still has time to settle in and grow in the new pot?

 

[Dav4]

ok will do since you prob know way more about the best way to do this than i do.

but. wouldn't it be helpful to do it earlier so it still has time to settle in and grow in the new pot?

It depends . If the layer has already got a fair amount of roots and your summer heat isn’t excessive, you’ll be fine. If your layer has some roots, and you get weeklong temps in the 90s with some wind, it could be a coin flip. When I lived in Georgia, I started some layers in March and was removing them in June, and I started some layers in mid August and was removing them in October. All of those layers survived until the next spring. Good aftercare is key, obviously.