Free Reuseable Hinged Clam shell Air Layer Pots

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ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1408674755 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

made from recycled plastic bottles, it can be made in less than one (1) minute with only 1 pair of heavy duty scissors. They can be installed and removed for re-positioning in minutes. It is modeled after The Rooter Pot and the Air Propagator. . Materials to make air layer pot: Assorted Plastic bottles 1 pint to 1 Gallon. 1 tin snip or heavy shear and or heavy duty scissors. Build Sequence: 1. look for the mold lines (seams) in the side of the bottle, use them as guides to make the cuts. 2. start the 2 cuts at the bottle neck, cut down one side across the bottom and up to the lower side of the hinge 3. Cut down from the bottle neck to the top side of the hinge, leave as large a hinge as possible. 4. Crimp the hinge in the open position then return the bottle to its original shape to "straighten the hinge". Cut two (2) V-notches or 1/2 rounds in the center bottom of the bottle. The build is complete, after the first few it will take less than a minute to make. You can also use a Vari-bit or hole saw to cut a round hole in the bottom of the bottle before you start the cuts. . Materials to install: 1 roll Electrical tape 6 feet of thin gauge wire (Nylon Wire ties, Plastic Plant ties, Wire plant ties or String) 1 piece of Plastic or Foil to cover air layer pot Install instructions: 1. Fill the clam shell halves with moistened potting media, pack solid and smooth level with hands. 2. Check that the halves are full by closing the clam shell, it should be solid with less than 1/8 inch extra media holding the halves apart. 3. position the air pot in the desired prepared location with the bottle neck facing down then close over the branch centering it in the two openings. wire or tie the middle as tight as possible. 4. wire or tie the bottle neck first, this will align the bottle, then place two ties on the body of the bottle. Use the electrical tape to tape the bottleneck to the branch. The attachment of the air layer pot to the branch can be varied, but electrical tape has been my simplest means of attachment. 5. the air layer pot can be covered with plastic or foil if exposed to sunlight. The seams can also be taped closed with duct tape. Water can be added at the top opening if needed. . Air Propagator and The Rooter Pot Info... http://airpropagator.com/index.php http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?cat=2,47236&p=46938 Air Propagator and The Rooter Pot instructions... http://airpropagator.com/docs/instructions_2013.pdf http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/learn_more/pdf/8608_Instructions.pdf Air Layering Instructions on the forum... http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/airlayering-4730251?trail=50 http://figs4fun.com/More_Info_Air_Layering.html http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/milk-jug-air-layer-6024319 http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/the-2-minute-air-layer-pictorial-5996173 http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/air-layering-marathon-pictures-4849944 Air Layering on the Web. http://crfgsandiego.org/Presentations/Air-Layering.pdf

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1408675017	Reply with quote #2

Really nice setup, in time I will give it a try. Thanks.

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1408676079	Reply with quote #3

Always giving great info, Pete. Thanks for your time and generosity. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1408677025	Reply with quote #4

Another great idea. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

figherder

Registered:1378804761
Posts: 237

Posted 1408680916	Reply with quote #5

I like it.. How long does it take to get roots to fill a jug like that? I have some shoots coming off my tree I wouldnt mind trying this on. If it works I can bring them indoors for the winter so I dont have a total loss like last year. __________________ Jeff in zone 5b Wish list St rita,Vista,Sal's G,De la Reina, preto, Sport and pops purple red from Bellaclare, Planera Malta Black, Navid Unk Dark Greek,

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1408704979	Reply with quote #6

Waynea, Shailesh, Frank, Bob C, Thanks for commenting, You're Welcome. Jeff, It took ~5 weeks and was posted, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1276488947&postcount=20 in the Milk Jug Air Layer Topic.

figherder

Registered:1378804761
Posts: 237

Posted 1408709982	Reply with quote #7

Awesome. Thank you. I still have 7 weeks till first frost so I have time. __________________ Jeff in zone 5b Wish list St rita,Vista,Sal's G,De la Reina, preto, Sport and pops purple red from Bellaclare, Planera Malta Black, Navid Unk Dark Greek,

WillsC

Registered:1348087628
Posts: 1,698

Posted 1408711655	Reply with quote #8

Figherder, I think Pete may have meant he has roots in 5 weeks showing to the outside of the jug, i'm not sure he meant it fills the jug in 5 weeks? If he did mean fill he has a very energetic plant:) I don't want to rain on your parade but as things cool it takes longer and as the plant is heading to dormancy it may not be quite as energetic to put roots out as it would have been in the spring or midsummer. But It does not hurt to try just not sure I would do a full girdle of the limb or any girdle.....if you girdle and it does not root you are done, limb is done. If you don't girdle and it does not root you just take the air layer off and even if there are some roots they will just dry and fall off.

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1408728314	Reply with quote #9

Clam shell air layer pots installed on a Violette de Bordeaux. There are one 32 oz., four 16 oz and five 8 oz. air layers. the 32oz and 8 oz bottles are ribbed and made of heavier plastic, they hold their shape better and are easier to install on the branches that the thinner 1 gallon and 16 oz bottles. . Jeff, What WillsC said... The only reason the air layers were removed at about 5 weeks was due to impending first frost, 8 weeks would have resulted in the container being full of roots. If you look at the pictures in the post, you will see that the air layers were severely pruned after removal due to the lack of roots to balance the canopy, they were basically Giant Rooted Cuttings. WillsC, Thanks for commenting and taking the Question : ) The pictured air layers were girdled and had to be removed, but the ones that were pruned (4) and treated as giant cuttings made it through the winter, the one that I kept produced dozens of figs the following season.

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1417992243	Reply with quote #10

Update: 12/7/14 Pictures of a few recently separated Bryant dark air layers with clam shell pots. This season most of the air layers on the Bryant Dark tree were done with 1 gallon nursery pots using ground layering technique due to winter dieback of most of the upper branches. The pictured air layers were all on this seasons growth. .

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1417996069	Reply with quote #11

I did this last summer (July 2013) on a Panache. It was a lolipop tree and I wanted to remove the top half. I didn't get roots that year but in the Spring of 2014 I brought it into my grow room in Mar to give it a head start on the season, with the milk gallon jug still attached. By April it had roots and I cut the top half off before moving it outside in May. So it's not worthless to try a late a/l, you might just have to wait a few months until it becomes an early air layer. :) __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

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