here is picture of two Kathleen's Black air layer I'm doing for trade with Ronde.dB, and Col de Dame N.

it should be ready in about a month if the weather holds up. once done and cut off from the mother tree, i'll move it to 1 gal pot and let them rest under shade for couple of weeks to see how they are doing. once i see the new tree coming to life, i'll slowly move it to sun and will send out as soon as i know they will live. it would by end of june/mid july.



pete

EDIT: the trade agreement was made some time ago. i'm not looking for a new trade. if i didn't make this clear, i'm sorry.

these air layers will go to two members that i have already agreed to trade RdB and CdDN with.

Do you use a plastic bag with a soil mix or just sphagnum moss?  I have no roots after a month and was thinking of switching to a soil mix.  Its been pretty cool here temp wise though so maybe when it warms up I'll start seeing some roots forming.

Tmc2009,

First, I scratch off the bark where I want roots to come out. Then I use seeding soil and perlite at 50/50. Then I leave it alone for a month before checking. It worked last year like a charm.

Pete

Don't give up on that air layer yet tmc2009. Give it a few more weeks. I have had air layers produce roots in as little as three weeks and some that took more time. You may be right about the temperature effect.

I think temperature does affect root production.  True of other trees and roses that I've rooted.  And true for fig cuttings, so I'd expect same issue with air layering.

came home after kids' lesson and found the sucker with those two air layers bent in 90 degree angle. i secured it to make sure it wouldn't do that.. strong wind and rain today and i guess what i did wasn't enough.

i restablized it with my shinai staves. hope the air layer doesn't fail. will keep an eye on it to make sure the sucker and the air layers don't die.

pete

checked the sucker in detail yesterday, the area where it was bent is still solid and strong. i do not see any damage on the outside. the leaves are still green and looks fine. only time will tell if this sucker is damaged or not. as soon as this sucker finishes the job of getting two air layer done, i'm cutting it down to the soil and will be making new tree with it.

pete

I really like the air layering technique.  Never had one fail, and no chance of mold or other evil stuff.  Wish my Panachee would grow so I could air layer it too.  It's stuck in non growth mode now.  After 3 years it has 5 leaves and one growth tip.  The tip is stagnant.  Just moved it to a sunnier spot hoping to get it to grow!  It has one little bump on it's trunk that could develop into a fig.  I hate to pinch that tip for fear of losing the nice trunk it has established.  Ordering more Panachee from UC Davis today.

Interesting to follow your progress. Airlayering is one of the things I really want to try when I get some fig plants large enough. In fact, that is a good reason for growing some less desireable ones - as 'guinea figs' to practice on. :)

i don't mind air layer, but for me, rooting a cutting is much easier. if the branch i'm air layering is near the soil, that's an easy job. however, if the branch i'm air layering is toward the top of the trunk, it's little more tricky for me.

problem is making sure the weight of the air layer can be supported and stable so strong wind or rain won't cause problem like it did before.

for trade, i prefer to get cuttings and send cuttings. however, if the trade involves rare/valueble variety, i don't mind doing air layer.

pete

Oooooh!  You just gave me a great idea!  If the branch is near the soil, it's easy!  I usually wrap soil in plastic, then cover with foil on higher branches, and it works.  Not as easy as dormant cuttings, but a sure thing! 

I have a VDB with lots of lower branches that JD wants me to cut off, and I looked at him with that "Don't even go there" look!  Now I'm going out, pushing them down into the soil, anchoring with a small river rock, and FREE TREES!
Suzi

The year I made two back up of my VdB. Cut it, bag it.. and forget it. Now one is in 1 gal pot and other will follow soon. Kathleen's Black back up I made is being traded for Genovese Nero. Three Madeira Black are all rooted and showing top growth...

I know air layer is an instant tree... but I enjoy rooting. There is something about rooting the cutting and making it into a tree that's just satisfying.

Pete

Pete,
You sure?  I'm a girl that likes a sure thing, and air layering is just that.  Rooting a cutting is random.  Sometimes it works, mostly not.
Suzi

I don't think there is such thing as sure thing. After all my cuttings and air layer both died over winter. It was more due to neglect than the cuttings or air layer.

I just prefer cuttings. So far, I only failed to root very small number of cuttings. And it's improving.

Pete

i think it will survive. the top is still green and putting out new leaves.



pete