Noobie Air Layer Fail - Trident Maple

[Toshi]

This is only my 4th attempt but my first failed air layer. I'm reading through other threads to see where I went wrong, perhaps I didn't cut deep enough?

After 4 weeks I gently opened it up to check the progress but removed everything when I noticed that something other than roots was growing.

What is it that I incubated instead? Fungi?

 

[sorce]

I wonder if the tree isn't smart enough to know it's best chance of survival in this scenario is to bridge the gap.

It seems like it knows this is easier than growing roots.

Another scenario, where there are already branches below, or even buds that popped due to the ringing, is alive and well below, so it will more readily grow roots.

If we tried, we could....put the puzzle together.

Makes sense.

Smart Tree Theory.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Please read this and have more success.

Radialayer™ a season saver.

Nutters, You may have noticed I almost always jump to recommending airlayers. I don't think I will ever lose my fascination with the process. In attempts to perfect it, I have worked out some tweaks so it is time to share my method. I don't understand haphazardly throwing long...

www.bonsainut.com

Sorce

 

[Toshi]

Please read this and have more success.

Radialayer™ a season saver.

Nutters, You may have noticed I almost always jump to recommending airlayers. I don't think I will ever lose my fascination with the process. In attempts to perfect it, I have worked out some tweaks so it is time to share my method. I don't understand haphazardly throwing long...

www.bonsainut.com

Sorce

Really nice method, thanks!

 

[sorce]

Really nice method, thanks!

I think some of the problem you encountered has to do with the space it was confined to as well. Because the tissue felt that pressure, it used it to grow toward each other and mend.

A RadialDisk serves to keep disconnected, and allow pressure free root growth.

Sorce

 

[Toshi]

pressure free root growth.

Sorce

Very interesting

There's always next year!

 

[Decoy Octopus]

I've had trouble with my Trident Maple air layers. Japanese Maple, Elms, Crepe Myrtles all easy as pie but I've yet to have luck with Tridents.

 

[Rivian]

Your cut wasnt very clean, there is leftover cambium. If you also ringbark a bit longer section, then its less likely the top and bottom will reconnect (which will almost certainly end any chance for roots). Do not apply rooting hormone to the exposed wood, the roots will come from the cambium above the exposed wood, so cover this upper edge and a bit of the bark above the cut in rooting hormone.

Btw, some species and varieties are very difficult or impossible to root.

 

[Toshi]

I've had trouble with my Trident Maple air layers. Japanese Maple, Elms, Crepe Myrtles all easy as pie but I've yet to have luck with Tridents.

Guess i'm part of the club too now!

Your cut wasnt very clean, there is leftover cambium. If you also ringbark a bit longer section, then its less likely the top and bottom will reconnect (which will almost certainly end any chance for roots). Do not apply rooting hormone to the exposed wood, the roots will come from the cambium above the exposed wood, so cover this upper edge and a bit of the bark above the cut in rooting hormone.

Btw, some species and varieties are very difficult or impossible to root.

Thanks, I'll give it another go next spring. Any guesses as to what that crusty growth is that was left behind? It's really hard and dense.

 

[leatherback]

Thanks, I'll give it another go next spring. Any guesses as to what that crusty growth is that was left behind? It's really hard and dense.

Just recut the top now and repack. If you have not let it dry out this callus (Which is what it is) can be triggered to grow roots very fast.

 

[Kanorin]

Just recut the top now and repack. If you have not let it dry out this callus (Which is what it is) can be triggered to grow roots very fast.

To expand on this: I'm pretty sure the bulbous, fungal-looking tissue is actually undifferentiated tissue that has formed in response to the injury, which is how all air-layer roots start. When this undifferentiated tissue stays dark and damp and given more time (and auxins traveling down from leaves above), it will differentiate into root tissue.

 

[leatherback]

I'm pretty sure the bulbous, fungal-looking tissue is actually undifferentiated tissue that has formed in response to the injury, which is how all air-layer roots start.

Callus yes

 

[Rivian]

To expand on this: I'm pretty sure the bulbous, fungal-looking tissue is actually undifferentiated tissue that has formed in response to the injury, which is how all air-layer roots start. When this undifferentiated tissue stays dark and damp and given more time (and auxins traveling down from leaves above), it will differentiate into root tissue.

I agree with your assessment of what it is, but in my limited experience, when the callus gets this large and theres no roots yet, the chances arent great. It may just keep growing in a tumor like fashion, never sending out roots. But ive also seen it work once or twice.
If I remember correctly, on my deshojo airlayer, it callused but roots never came from it, instead roots came from the internode above it some weeks later, after I reapplied expired rooting hormone on it, though it may have sent those roots out either way.

 

[Toshi]

I'm probably just going to cut my losses and try again next spring. I think it's too late in the summer to remove it even if roots did emerge. I'd rather this have went seamlessly if I was going to try and get it through winter.

 

[Vali]

I would cut that thing off, scrape the wood, repack that branch and leave it over the winter and spring. I don't think you have anything to lose. Don't give up so easy

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Can we get photos of the entire tree? In the first photo it looks pretty weak for a trident. You improve your odds with more foliage. However just going to say that sometimes air-layers don't take... and you can't figure out why. I am in the process of striking air-layers off a large elm in order to make a forest of clones. The apex came off perfectly... but some of the branches are proving to be difficult.

 

[Toshi]

I would cut that thing off, scrape the wood, repack that branch and leave it over the winter and spring. I don't think you have anything to lose. Don't give up so easy

I didn't realize the roots could safely make it through winter but if there's a chance then I'll give it another go! Also like you said, nothing to lose.

Can we get photos of the entire tree? In the first photo it looks pretty weak for a trident. You improve your odds with more foliage. However just going to say that sometimes air-layers don't take... and you can't figure out why. I am in the process of striking air-layers off a large elm in order to make a forest of clones. The apex came off perfectly... but some of the branches are proving to be difficult.

I posted a photo of it before bud break sorry about that. It had more foliage but sometime in the last 2 weeks we had a night of brutal rain and wind that knocked my bike onto it and took some branches.

 

[Toshi]

 

[Vali]

I would also add more substrate for the roots to grow in. Good luck!

 

[Trenthany]

I agree with your assessment of what it is, but in my limited experience, when the callus gets this large and theres no roots yet, the chances arent great. It may just keep growing in a tumor like fashion, never sending out roots. But ive also seen it work once or twice.
If I remember correctly, on my deshojo airlayer, it callused but roots never came from it, instead roots came from the internode above it some weeks later, after I reapplied expired rooting hormone on it, though it may have sent those roots out either way.

Just had an oak pop roots all the way the wrap after a couple months. When I checked 2 weeks ago it looked exactly like that, nothing but undifferentiated callous forming. In a month or two I’m hoping to have a 4” oak layer to grow!