removing air layers and cuttings

[benw3790]

I have an air layer that is almost ready. Should I take the air layer and pot it at the very beginning of fall or wait until next spring? OR Do it this summer when its fully ready?I also have a cutting thats been growing since the beginning of march. I have no idea how many roots it has and it a stuck in a five gallon pot with another tree lol. It was an experiment that survived. When should i dig it up and pot it? I know that its too hot right now for this type of stuff and I know I need enough time to recover before winter. So.... WHEN should I carry out this work?? Thanks!! -ben

 

[lordy]

I did a layer Mother's Day 2014 and cut it off in mid-August. Doing fine. Remember the roots stop growing during summer heat so figure out how to keep it cool.

 

[Eric Group]

The one planted in a pot with another tree- dig it out when you repot the big one. (Spring 2016?)

I did the same with a small JM cutting earlier this year.

What type of tree is it that you are layering?

 

[leatherback]

The airlayer.. Remove when ready, latest with at least some 6 weeks before the first true frost. That way the plant will have enough time to settle in the pot. If not ready by then keep over winter.
Note that ready is a subjective term..

 

[Stan Kengai]

I always remove air layers when temperatures start to cool, which for me is early September. I am very excited about my layers this year because I got my first successful trident maple. But I won't consider it a complete success until it makes it through the winter.

As others have said, the cutting can stay until the other plant is transplanted.

 

[benw3790]

They are both crepe myrtles.. the cutting and the air layer. I wasnt planning on repotting the big tree next spring but I guess I can slip pot it to get the cutting out. Youre eight leatherback it is a relative term. To be honest I have no idea if its ready now or if I need to wait. The sphagnum and plastic have roots all around big and small. Its not COMPLETELY full though. Though about removing it in september.

 

[leatherback]

Were it in my garden, it would have been in a pot already then..

 

[JoeR]

Im also wondering when to seperate some airlayers.

Blueberry- this one is small but has a lot of fibrous roots. Should be able to seperate it soon, but when I do what aftercare do I give it? Lighting? This one I am surprised to even have roots on- I let it dry out which killed all the roots but they came back.

Plum- also small with lots of roots. Again, what aftercare should I give it?

 

[0soyoung]

If you've got enough roots, basically nothing special is required afterward. But, you never know, so put it in shade for a few days. If leaves wilt set up a mister/mist-tent. Otherwise, progressively move to part sun, full sun (or whatever exposure is appropriate for the specie).

It is most important to stabilize a newly harvested layer in its new pot so that the trunk doesn't shift and cause the roots to be damaged - guy the trunk to the pot and even go so far as to screw it to the bottom of a plastic pot if it is tall (24+ inches).

 

[benw3790]

If you've got enough roots, basically nothing special is required afterward. But, you never know, so put it in shade for a few days. If leaves wilt set up a mister/mist-tent. Otherwise, progressively move to part sun, full sun (or whatever exposure is appropriate for the specie).

It is most important to stabilize a newly harvested layer in its new pot so that the trunk doesn't shift and cause the roots to be damaged - guy the trunk to the pot and even go so far as to screw it to the bottom of a plastic pot if it is tall (24+ inches).

Thanks for the Info! I am gonna post a pic so you guys could maybe tell me if it looks ready or not. I am just worried about plantin the layer in the middle of summer. We are in upper 80s to mid 90s right now in NC. so I thought it be best to plant in September, which will give me time to recover before first frost. at the same time though, doing it.now or soon could give more time for it to establish some since its the growing season, it should still be growing after planting??

 

[benw3790]

The one planted in a pot with another tree- dig it out when you repot the big one. (Spring 2016?)

I did the same with a small JM cutting earlier this year.

What type of tree is it that you are layering?

Crepe myrtle. The cutting is also CM, in a five gallon pot with a young hornbeam lol. didnt plan on repottin the hornbeam because its in that five.gallon bucket to grow untouched for trunk girth. (I rent so nothing goes in the ground) I guess I can slip pot it though, to get the cutting out. The layer has probably 6 or 7 big flat plump white roots that are visible and a few smaller roots that are visible. Some of the big plump ones are circling around the bottom of the bag. The Bag Isnt FULL of roots though yet so idk if it is ready. There could be a lot of roots inside the moss. Ill post photos.

 

[0soyoung]

doing it.now or soon could give more time for it to establish some since its the growing season, it should still be growing after planting??

Most temperate trees quit growing at temperatures above 95F. If that is not much of the day, then you're right.

Another way to think about it, is that those new roots will also keep growing if the layer is still on the mother tree or not. On the other hand, and as I indicated previously, you risk loosing the layer by being hasty harvesting it. Don't be hasty.

FYI, here's a pic of something like what you should have before harvesting the layer.

 

[benw3790]

Most temperate trees quit growing at temperatures above 95F. If that is not much of the day, then you're right.

Another way to think about it, is that those new roots will also keep growing if the layer is still on the mother tree or not. On the other hand, and as I indicated previously, you risk loosing the layer by being hasty harvesting it. Don't be hasty.

FYI, here's a pic of something like what you should have before harvesting the layer.
View attachment 77081

So should I go ahead and harvest it? It doesnt have as many roots or looks as good as the one in your photo. mine has nice plump white roots like that mixed in with the smaller ones but I would say mine only has about half as many roots as that one

 

[0soyoung]

So should I go ahead and harvest it? It doesnt have as many roots or looks as good as the one in your photo. mine has nice plump white roots like that mixed in with the smaller ones but I would say mine only has about half as many roots as that one

... you risk loosing the layer by being hasty harvesting it. Don't be hasty.

 

[benw3790]

Ok ok.. I get It. Go ahead and harvest it. What about after care? Mist daily? Keep in shade? I work all day abd wont be home to mist it and the temperatures are going to be 85-95 degrees. My girlfriend stays home so maybe she can mist it for me.

 

[szelelaci]

hope I can bring the life back to this thread..
I have two air layers on different hornbeams. I made them a month ago, I already can see nice roots snaking around in the container. The containers are just above ground, and the first branches with leaves on are about 1.5 meters above the layer. I will have to reemove them before winter because the temperature can drop under -15 C. My concern is when i remove it it won't have any foliage on. Or should I remove it leaving some of the top on? In this case it would be too tall, with almost nothing to hold it, should use big sticks to secure it, and then chop in spring. Or should I leave the air layer on for now, but chop it and maybe it will bud back during the rest of the season...
The main question is, is that ok, if I wait about a month and remove it then without any foliage?