I have a couple of questions for those of you who do a lot of air layering.

All the air layering I've done in the past has been on plants that were not in direct sun. I tucked them in behind other trees that were partially under the deck above my patio. I was told too much direct light would cause the air layers to fail.

After doing some reading on air layering I'm still confused.

Can I air layer a tree that's in bright direct sun all day long?

If I put an air layer cup beneath a part of my tree that's loaded with figs will I loose those figs?

Thanks in advance for the info.

I don't think direct sunlight will be a problem.  I have wrapped aluminium foil around the airlayer to reflect away the sun's rays.  As for the figs, you would probably want to pull them off unless it is a very large airlayer in 1 gallon or larger container.  At least that's what I have done in order for the new plant to get a good start putting out roots and foliage.

I also don't think sun would be a problem. The few I have layered have all been in full sun. And as Steve said, cover with foil so roots won't get too hot. If you want to air-layer an in-ground tree, you can't just put it in the shade. ;)

I also wonder about leaving the figs on the branches. Since in an air-layer, if you girdle the branch completely, you are disrupting the 'food' carrying tissue, I wonder if any fruits left on the branch might be even sweeter since the carbs can't be transported down to the roots. I'm considering layering a RdB but don't want to lose any of those yummy figs.

Thank you Steve. 
Gina - yeah, see the big ones I want to air layer are ones I DO NOT WANT TO MISS ANY FIGS FROM (CdD-B, Battaglia Green, JH Adriatic, Angelique) and the few small ones include LSU Gold, Bajtar ta San Gwan, etc. I guess I'll do some with figs and some without.

What Steve said, I use the foil and do air layers all summer.
Ifyou want figs maybe wait a little later and let them get ripe as you are airlayering, or pull MOST of the figs as not to tax the young plant as it develops roots and starts off on its own.

I do air layers all the time in full sun. The only condition is to wrap alum. foil or use a rag to cover the
cup or bag of dirt. Keep it damn. I used a needle to inject water whenever I think dirt is getting dry.

Michael,
Most of my air layers have been on in-ground trees in full sunlight with developing figs above the air layers, the containers were plastic milk jugs, and were only shaded by the leaf canopy. The figs were harvested before the air layers were separated.

I will be trying this http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1274908052&postcount=8 for several air layers of several young potted trees to create back-ups this summer. I've not intentionally done it, but have placed air layers at several locations where plastic plant ties created the root initials and they were all successful. Good Luck.

I have an RdB air layer that I need to cut off tonight.  I used one of those plastic containers that strawberries come in.  The air layer container is getting direct afternoon sun and i did not even wrap it in foil for protection.  It's been right about 4 weeks, but noticed roots starting to come out of the container on Monday.

PS.. The air layer was done on green wood.

So, you're finally getting around to air layering the half of your collection I'm pretty sure you promised to send to me. They must be included in the etc. group, since I have all the others you named except Bajtar ta San Gwann. Good for you for getting over your aversion to air layering.

I started a mess of them in early April hoping to get a head start on layering plants for trade, but all of them sat there until the temps were consistently in the 80s during the day and the mid 50s at night before I noticed any roots. Almost all are well on their way to filling their rooting bags now, including the long-delayed Hunt I owe you. So much for having stuff ready for trades by early June. The Not Scott's Black Gene Hosey Mystery Green layer is also happily rooting for you. That variety just loves to put on figs. I can't wait until it grows larger, as it may be the most productive fig I own...that you used to own (lol). You sure you don't have one still lying around?

Re figs on your layers, I just plucked a handful of nice looking little figs from my two Ischia Black layers. I expect to separate both from their mother long before the figs would have ripened and don't want to tax the small trees once they are on their own roots. I doubt there would be an issue ripening figs on an attached air layer, but I wonder if it might cause a problem of some sort with all those new roots in a very confined space, assuming the layers were started two or three months before the figs are expected to ripen. Maybe those layers you want to keep figs on through ripening should have an extra-large volume of rooting medium if you don't want to wait until later to get them started.

I'm no expert, but since the leaves produce the carbs, which are used to produce both figs and roots, won't leaving the figs on result in slower root production since some of the carbs will go into making figs?  Similarly, won't the figs mature slower as well?

Just to add to everyone else, I had mine wrapped in aluminum foil, exposed to the sun.  No issues.

Thanks Greg, Paul, Pete, Paul and James.

Pete - thx for that link - interesting.

Phil - that makes sense.

Neil,
I do have a Scott's BlackNOT - fromGeneHosey'syard that is an unknown but as it has not yet given me a fig I do not know if it is the same thing I sent you. I just came in from watering and it was crazy hot out there. I haven't checked today but the heat index has been over 100 degrees f for days. That's too hot for me so after I cool off I'll go look at that tree -- oh . dammit - ok I'll go now. Be right back.
OK -- so I have a 4 foot tree labeled Scott's Black that did come from Gene Hosey's yard and is covered in small green figs so I will get an idea what the thing is this year if the figs aren't stollen by critters. It may or may not be the same as what I sent you so don't go trading that air layer away yet. As for the Hunt -- I'll sure be happy to get that since I think I've been waiting 2+ years for it.

btw - got my first ripe figs today -- Florea brebas - still need to photograph and weigh so I haven't tasted them yet.

And the only reason I'm air layering at all is so I can hopefully please you by sending you as many new varieties as possible. I still remember when your wife said "no more then 30", so what's going to happen when the truck pulls up with 215 new air layers?

As I'm using one of 2 commercial air layer cups the best I can do is pick the bigger one for the branches with more figs.

I am pretty happy about my fig harvest this year. My little friends are working very hard (with a few exceptions which I'll lie about and convince you that you have to have them).

Anyway, if all goes well I should have some goodies you'll want. So, send me a list (please) of your stuff again so I can see if you have anything I need. ta, c u, later, bye, by buy birdie, mgg

I'll send the list...next week. Thank you ever so much for going out of your way on my account. You should know that The Wife will likely force your address out of me at knife point or with a similarly threatening dental instrument and then come after you directly for enabling my fig collecting almost addiction. You can't hide from her once she's caught the scent. Luckily, you can pacify her with a suitably delicious hard cider, Crispin Honey Crisp comes to mind, or a high quality German or Alsatian Riesling, so there is some hope of mostly escaping her wrath.

If you find time to take pics of the leaves and fruit of your Scott's Black (Maybe) Not GH, I can upload some of my own and we can at least compare what we see. I still have the pics of a couple of ripe fruit from last year. It surprised me that yours has not produced fruit when my presumably younger and smaller tree has been so eager to make figs right from the start. I'll hold back your air layer.

I've had figs ripening on my layers both b4 and after detaching. Never been an issue. Then again, my layers tend to be on an epic scale:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/air-layers-greek-style-6827365?pid=1282923422#post1282923422

And nearly all in direct sun, except I cover with black sacks rather than foil, but I'm sure the latter also works just fine.

Costas,
thx that was very helpful. 

I started an air layer this spring on a 1 year old fig in a 5 gallon bucket. It was loaded with tiny figlets which I removed from the daughter and left on the mother. My stupid technique was to tie a couple damp Root Riot cubes around the 1/2" branch with some grafting tape. I wrapped that in cellophane and foil. For the next couple months it was in full sun with partial shade in afternoon. It grew roots, so I separated the daughter and put her in a pot next to mom. Mom is still growing about 9 figs and has about the same vigor as the 3 other 5 gallons I have of the same variety. Neither mother nor daughter seemed to have suffered from the air layer process. The daughter if anything is extra vigorous. The whole process was a lot easier than I expected. I think I'll go air layer something right now!

If it worked, why is it stupid?

Ditto what Costas said.

OK, I guess I don't think it's a stupid technique and I agree it works. I just started another single-cube Root Riot air layer on a green root sucker on a Conadria this morning. I think what I meant is that I am pretty stupid (and neglectful), but was still able to do it successfully.

You don't need a degree in horticulture to make a viable air layer. It's a fairly well-understood, basic & common-sense technique - even the ape in your avatar could manage it with a little training. 

That would be SOOOO awesome! I want a gang of spider monkeys that are trained to graft and prune my trees, fend off squirrels and birds, harvest fruit at peak ripeness, and hump the clipboard lady in the ear if she sets foot on my property again. 

Better enroll them in ape class for 2015 now then.