So, did one of my 'giant' layers recently, & took a few pics to illustrate. I reckon I must have layered the equivalent of 6 yrs growth - maybe more. Is there any interest here in seeing the method described in an old thread of mine? If so, I'll post the link later, & upload the pics to illustrate.

Or maybe I should wait until the layer is proved to be viable a few months after being detached from mummy tree? Any opinions considered.

Processes over time are always instructive...even fails. Share away.

yes Costas, please share:)

ok guys, you asked for it. I'll upload soon, then update the thread after it's been detached and (hopefully) growing on its own in its new site - a kinda progress report you might say. Howzat? 

Yes.....photo montage of the Greek style.  I'm sure your new layers will be just as successful as your other documented and photographed air-layers, but if the new ones fail, and I hope they don't....so what.  Failures can be informative too.

Your old Greek Style thread deserves to be seen by all our new members who may not know about it.  It was a great read.

Frank

Looking forward to any pictures.

Yes, a thread that bumps up with updates would be great!  Looking forward to seeing how this is done!

Hey there Frank. Wouldn't wanna tempt fate or make myself a hostage to fortune, or even lay myself wide open to the charge of hubris, but I've never had a 'giant' air layer fail on me. I repeat - never.

Having said that, I'm the first to admit there's always a first time, and this is almost certainly the biggest air layer I've ever attempted, so the opportunities for ending up with egg on my face are many, rich and varied. Time will tell if I have over-reached myself this time, but basically, I had very little choice in the matter. This garden is about to change hands (along with the house that is attached to it), and I'm layering a tree that will very soon no longer be ours, so I had to make the best of limited time and opportunity. If it fails, at least I'll know the limits of what is possible. To date, I've managed to layer 4 years' growth, so this is at least 50% bigger than anything I've previously attempted.

I'm also speculatively layering a bay-leaf bush, and a plum tree that produces fruit that looks like a very large cherry (also the subject of another thread). I have no idea if they will 'take', but figure it's worth trying anyway just in case. The potential reward will be so much greater than any disappointment arising from their failure. If I only get 1 out of the 3, I'll be a happy bunny. Set my expectations deliberately low so I won't be too disappointed. 

Anyway, I'm touched by the level of interest shown thus far in this thread, and thank you also for your kind words about my original thread on the subject. High praise indeed.

Let the games begin....   Show everyone your huge air-layer.


Frank

Hey, are you doubting mine's bigger than yours?

ok, I wasn't gonna upload until I completed 'Phase II', but guess there's no reason why I shouldn't upload the work in progress - ie Phase I. Just so you know what you'll be looking at:

Phase I - Main air-layer. This is basically the entire tree from around 5' off the ground. Haven't actually measured gross tree height, but I estimate around 12'. That means the layer is around 7' high. The pics only go as far as Phase I at the moment.

Phase II - To be completed on Tuesday. Near the base of the layer are 3 satellite main branches that will themselves be layered. There are 2 reasons for adding a Phase II on this occasion - 

1) The size and 'volume' of the layer makes it unwieldy and difficult to handle/transport, etc., unless these branches are removed. I didn't want to just cut and throw them away (or use them for cuttings), so decided that subsidiary layers were the answer. So you could say 4 for the 'price' of 1, in effect, though in practice the cost is actually doubled coz sphagnum moss isn't exactly cheap over here.

2) These branches will be removed before the main layer, the effect of which should be to reduce the demand made on its root system. In theory at least, the chances of viability of the main air-layer are thus improved, coz its root system now has less to support. Well, that's the theory. The practice may turn out differently.

Anyway, I won't keep you in suspenders too much longer.

Patience guys & gals. Or haven't you heard - it's a virtue.

OK, it's showtime folks. 1st pic shows the target tree, with the 'doughnut' already in place. I think I used 2 black sacks for this d'nut, just to be on the safe side. It's about 4' - 4.5' above ground level, and secured with a wire tie. If you don't have that, string will do, but don't over-tighten.

As you can see, there are branches below the intended layer, so the new owners will still get their figs - assuming they like them. Otherwise, they can always give them to us! The 3 main branches that will be the subject of PHASE II are clearly visible - pics of those layers will follow later.

Next, prepare your container. For this size layer I had to use the largest I could find that was also workable and flexible enough to wrap around the tree. I haven't measured its volume, bit I reckon it's around 15 litres. PHASE II will call for 3x3litre containers. This one is actually the container that houses our halloumi when we occasionally bulk-buy. It works out cheaper - supposedly.

I used a hack-saw and an exceptionally strong scissor-type tool to do the cutting down one side, half way across the bottom, then the hole to accommodate the main stem/trunk.

 

Sorry, slightly out of sequence - a close-up of the d'nut.

Costas,

I have a potted Sals Corleone that is very close in size and shape as yours. I am planning on doing the same thing as you are to shorted my tree and send the rootball to another fig friend I promised last Fall.

I plan on using just about the same size pot as yours but I want to cut at least three girdles all around. I want optimum roots growth because we only have one season to complete this.

Think we can compare notes as the season goes?

OK, quick break from the slide show folks.

Sure we can Rafed. I've also used multiple wounds in the past, but still not convinced that makes much difference in terms of success or failure. Intuitively, you would think the more roots the better, and I can't argue with that.

It's just that I've found that a single wound works just as well - providing you do it near the top of the container of course. That gives the roots the space they need to grow downwards, which is their natural direction of growth. 

Anyroad, to continue the story..............

I prefer to 'girdle' either all or most of the way around the trunk. I know some of you prefer less destructive methods, but I leave that to you and whatever risks you want to take that might affect your chances of success. The fluid you see around the wound is mainly rooting gel, but you can use powder if you prefer. This wound is about 1.25 - 1.5" in length, and as I mentioned to Rafed, cut near the top of where the container will sit. I would allow at least 1" of sphag. moss cover above the top of the girdle.

Thanks,

I usually mix a little moss with the soil but I'll try your method too.

OK, now comes the 'clever' bit. Wrap your container around the trunk so that it sits on the d'nut, then tie some string around it. This is necessary of course to stop it opening up whilst you're filling it with the moss, or at any later stage in the cycle.

This particular plastic is ideal - flexible enough to allow for such manipulation without breaking wide open. If yours breaks, don't panic. Just use strong adhesive tape to put it back together again, and again circle with string for that extra security and strength.


   .

Hmm, that's an %ing idea that has also occurred to me, but never tried it coz I wanted guaranteed success, which this method has always given me. If it works, fine. It would certainly be cheaper, but your container will be quite heavy at this size, so you'd better make sure it's strong enough to take the extra weight.  

Well, you know what's next, right? Fill the darn thing with sphag. moss, or whatever you think works as well, but then don't blame me if yours bites the dust. If it works, fine. Let me know, so I can save myself a small fortune. 

Here's the container in context to give you an idea of size and relative scale.

 

Costas,

Are you going to cover the pot or leave it open?
Aren't you worried the moss will dry up? Or is there another reason for it?

Oh, and no worries on the blame part. We all know you mean every good intention.
What works for one could be a disaster for another. It's the chance many of us take.

Thanks

Costas,

Thanks for sharing the pictures and your procedure...
 
But mine is bigger ; )