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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > The 2 minute air layer (pictorial)
 
 


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FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
This is a quick and easy method of air-layering when you have more than a few to do.

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Frank
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Gina

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Foil. Cool. And you can recycle it when done. :)

Thanks for sharing.
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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Thank you for sharing.  That was what I did few weeks ago. 
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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
how to water inside it?
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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Seems like a pretty simple process to follow. 

Would be really cool if you had this with instructions in a PDF.


Chris 
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Chris Fairchild
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FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Quote:
Originally Posted by figs4me
how to water inside it?



Good question.

Since the foil provides an air-tight environment, watering is usually not necessary over the 4-6 week period needed for root formation.

On the other hand, I've used a syringe right through the foil to inject moisture.
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Frank
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Maro2Bear

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Hey FMD

thanks for sharing your air-layering technique. Did you girdle the bark layer at all, it doesn't appear that you did. please share your results in 6 weeks or so!
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FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Mark, the third picture shows the bark being scraped off the circumference of the stem. You don't really need to girdle figs deeply for root formation, as a little trauma goes a long way.
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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
To water, I like the syringe idea best, ....but don't have one. What about in the initial wrapping of foil, to include near the stem a short length of tubing (like main drip or aquarium, or even 2 inches of garden hose) through which you could pour/funnel any necessary water. Keep that sealed/corked when not in use. Of course that would detract somewhat from the 'easy' aspect.

Where can one get a large syringe?
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james

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
a turkey baster with an injection needle does a great job of getting water into the air-layer. Also, with an empty bladder you can also do an air exchange with it, as well.
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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
since I am on the subject of kitchen tools... a vegetable peeler also makes easy work of the girdle.
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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Quote:
Originally Posted by james
a turkey baster with an injection needle does a great job of getting water into the air-layer. Also, with an empty bladder you can also do an air exchange with it, as well.


That's a great idea. Even a regular turkey baster would do with a tiny hole torn in the foil near the top. Then patched with a bit of duct tape. Why not?
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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Gina, I was thinking on the same line. Except I was thinking of an easier to peel tape to re-water over several weeks. 
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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
;-))
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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Another easy way to air-layer (especially the thinner branches) is to use Rockwool cubes.   They can be found in any hydroponic shop.  The steps I follow are: 
  • Remove the plastic wrapper from around the cubes
  • Slice from the middle of one side to the center of the cube
  • Soak the cube in water for a few minutes, then set on top of a sponge to drain.  Rockwool is not easy to wring out, so I use a sponge to wick the excess moisture out of it
  • Slip the limb through the slit I created in the side of the cube and fill the center cavity with Rockwool plugs, if necessary
  • Wrap in plastic and foil and seal

I had excellent results using this method, and the preformed cubes made working in tight spaces a breeze.

I should also note: Except for the thin limbs (as mentioned above), I only air-layer using the 0.3 gallon air-pots (2 of them attached for a thick limb).  I stopped using plastic and foil to hold the growing medium in place after 2008.  I had lost nearly half of my air-layers to some varmint tearing through the plastic.  With the containers in place, I can water the growing mix and re-wrap in plastic with minimal damage to the roots which have already formed.  The rooting pots that Bass sells are also good to prevent this type of damage.

~james

01/13/2008 in Houston
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FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Yup, rockwool cubes work very well for really small branches. Will post picture of one just completed.

In the meantime, here's a picture of my syringe.

See also an earlier post:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/How-To-Save-Your-Beall-5494692?highlight=surgery

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Frank
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JoAnn749

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
How late in the season could I do this?  I have figs on the tree I am waiting for - they should be ready around Halloween and I'd hate to sacrifice them.
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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Thank you for the pictorial FMD. I am trying this on my fig tree to get a few more specimens out of it for gifts. Had a couple of questions please.

If the branches one is air layering should one remove the fruit that is maturing or leave it on till ripeness and mangia?

If the fruit removed will the air layer root quicker or easier?
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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
For those in the NNJ area, what's the latest you would consider air layering?!?!?

Also, I see the OP just scraped the bark instead of peeling a portion off, is that optional or did I just screw up my first air layer last week? LOL!
FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
As long as the branch is putting out new growth, the air layer will succeed.

Removing the fruit (that will probably never ripen anyway) will definitely redirect energy into making roots more rapidly.

Scraping the bark, girdling or leaving it intact will probably have little effect on the success of the air layer. Traumatizing the cambrium might encourage putting out roots a little faster, in my opinion.
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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
I like the pictorial FMD.  I am planning to air layer a few branches.  Do you think the foil will get too hot in full sun here in AZ?
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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Fortisi,

I just started an air layer on Monday for someone and I'm in Chester. Should be ready to rock by 10/1. I can dig shuffle it and get another month or 2 of growth.
FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Hi Joe, 
If anything, the foil reflects the sun's rays, keeping what's inside cooler. Arizona in the fall shouldn't too bad, right?
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Frank
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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Frank

It is hot out there in the sticker patch (Az.) but its a dry heat.....HAHA
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FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
4-5 weeks later

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Frank
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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gina
To water, I like the syringe idea best, ....but don't have one. What about in the initial wrapping of foil, to include near the stem a short length of tubing (like main drip or aquarium, or even 2 inches of garden hose) through which you could pour/funnel any necessary water. Keep that sealed/corked when not in use. Of course that would detract somewhat from the 'easy' aspect.

Where can one get a large syringe?


I use a Ink Refill(for a printer) syringe....Works for me!
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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
FMD thanks for sharing from start to finish. Makes the process really simple. I have rooter pots like the ones Bass sales but I may just change to this.
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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Very interesting, thanks for the pictorial . I've not tried this yet , but will next season. This step by step is most appreciated!
Great tip on the baster too!

FMD what's the tree you do this on?



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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Thank you as well. That's a freakish little root ball, things going nuts!
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Posted Reply with quote  #30 

A plastic bottle with pointed cap from a craft store should work pretty well too.
Something like this. You'd be able to trim the top to deliver as much water as you would want.
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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
FMD,

Thanks for posting the pics and followup. This post was the inspiration for me to start my first air layers. I did not use foil (1 gallon water jugs), but due to the concise picture tutorial and comments, I was inspired. I now have 5 active air layers with lots of root growth.

Thanks,
FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
This particular variant is Nero.

I really went overboard with the air layering this year but not as bad as last year when  I air layered everything including my King Charles spaniel. It was not the proudest moment of my life. 

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/A-Tail-of-Air-Layering-Gone-Horribly-Wrong-5454142?highlight=bella
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Posted Reply with quote  #33 
Thanks for the link... that is hilarious. 



Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty.......


.
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Posted Reply with quote  #34 
I have an air layering question, I bought some rooter pots and put them to use late in the season. I've checked all three rooter pots and they all seem to have nice root growth but not sure if I should risk snipping them off now and wait til next year???

I'm asking cuz I'm not sure if they're on their way to going dormant already or not......I don't really have much air layering experience....yet! :D


Any guidance would be appreciated!
FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #35 
If you have good root formation, pot them now! The mother tree will go dormant but the potted airlayer will continue to grow under the right environment. You will not need to worry the air layer drying out or freezing on the tree during winter. Win-Win.
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Frank
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Posted Reply with quote  #36 
TY!
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Posted Reply with quote  #37 
Those are impressive airlayer roots. I wonder if your summers are hotter than ours here. I am too anxious to wait for them to get that big. I try planting soon I see that the branch is rooting, but I am doing in much fatter branches.  So far, they have made it into the new soil, however, they dropped their leaves soon after planting.  The newbie is active and shooting new branches- which is good.
these pictures are awesome - thanks for posting them.
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FMD

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Posted Reply with quote  #38 
Grasa, the air layers were started Sept 3 and the first batch were potted 4 weeks later. Different varieties grow roots at different rates. I found Nero, Sicilian Red, Sal's C, Atreano, LSU Gold to be really fast and vigorous. Slower rooters were LSU Purple, Vista, Scott's Black and a few others. The slowest were  were Sal's EL, Hardy Chicago, Beall, Alma, VDB amd some others.

Here is an LSU Purple I potted a few days ago.

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Frank
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Posted Reply with quote  #39 
FMD, I realize it is late in the season but I started one today using your 2 minute method. We'll see how it does this late and if
it will continue rooting if it becomes necessary to take it inside. Looks like for the next two weeks we have highs in 70-75 range.
The night time lows may get me though.
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Posted Reply with quote  #40 
Bumping this old thread because I am going to try this method on some of my trees soon.  It's quick and easy.  Highly uncomplicated. 

I made a promise to a vintner in Temecula Wine country as a thanks for gifting us two $90 passes to the harvest festival that I would bring fig her cuttings.  She was thrilled (Italians do love their figs), but our winter was warm, and nothing went dormant.  So now she will be getting rooted plants.

I love this method!  Much easier than those I have tried before.

Foil + damp potting mix.  Doesn't get easier than that!

Suzi
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Posted Reply with quote  #41 
Amazing, quick guide!  :)

Would have had trouble finding this as there are like hundreds of things popping up on searches.  Thanks Suzi!
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pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #42 
This pictorial makes it look so easy! 
I can't wait to try a few.
Does the mother tree have to be a certain size or age so that it doesn't get stunted by the air layering?
 
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Posted Reply with quote  #43 
I was thinking of recycling plastic water bottles. Split them up the side cut the bottom off. Slide over branch, fill w soil, tape up the side. Wrap with aluminum foil is optional.

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Posted Reply with quote  #44 
@pino:  My first air layers were done on a 1.5 year old VdB.  The mother didn't suffer at all.  When I cut the air layer, she just put out more branches.

@ADelmanto:  The water bottle method has been proven to work well also.  The foil puts the roots in the dark where they should be, and also reflects the hot sun.

Suzi
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