Hello All, is there a "Better" or "Worse" time to start an Air Layer or Propagate Some shoots? I live in CT and Im worried about the trees/Newly planted shoots going Dormant before they get a good start up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

Usually the spring is the best time, but depending on the size of the plant you are trying to air layer a minimum of 5 weeks is good for smaller plants.

I am starting mine now. Here in paradise, I have even left some to overwinter on the tree, and they have been fine. Air-layers that are not as well-rooted as you would like, you can remove them and overwinter them in the greenhouse. Then they are a little more like a slightly rooted cutting. The greenhouse allows the air-layer to retain its leaves and continue the rooting process.

I once did a fairly large one (4 feet) late in the season, and was worried about cutting it loose too soon. I decided to wait until the tree dropped its leaves, and then potted it in a larger container more in  line with the size of the trunk and branches. It wintered in the garage, and in spring I moved it into full sun; it soon it leafed out and grew with no problems.

I'm finding it's pretty hard to mess up an air layer. As long as the rooting medium doesn't dry out, it seems to work.

My experience is 6 weeks. After 6 weeks I  open the foil paper and look at the plastic rooting bag. Usually I find it full with fresh roots. Usually I give it another two weeks before I separate the branch from the mother tree. Protect it from the sun.

Thanks for all the advice. The tree im looking to do is pretty big and the piece would be about 4 feet. If I start it now will it effect the Figs from ripining on that branch?

The air layers I've done (3) on branches with figs didn't seem to affect the ripening process.

I'm going to start 1 up. Any reccomenation on what to fill the container w? Sphagnum Moss, soil or a little of both?