I guess I removed it too soon. I saw the roots through the bottle, but when I removed it they fell off. Two or three root stayed on, so stripped most of the leaves off, potted it up, and covered it with a plastic bottle. Anyone else had similar issues and got the sucker to survive? This is Marseilles Black VS.

 

Ended up knocking one of the branches off my JH Adriatic while moving things around. Figured I might try rooting it. It's a completely green branch. Dipped it in some rooting hormone, potted it up, and covered it was a plastic bottle as well. Hopefully it makes it!

 

I have a question for some more experienced members: Are those too green to survive? Last year, I also accidentally knocked off a green CdDG branch and tried to root it with no success. I'm still not sure whether I did something wrong or whether it was just too young to have a chance in the first place.

But chadspur, I've accidentally broken the occasional root from first-year, lignified scion wood and had everything turn out just fine. 

Hi, Chadspur.  I had that happen last year.  The air layer had been on about four weeks.  I expected to be as far along as the other ones I'd done, but it wasn't.  Just a few short roots.  I didn't cut any of the leaves.  I put the whole thing in a 5 gallon bucket and covered with plastic.  I'd mist it whenever I thought about it.  Kept it in the shade.  Slowly started letting air in.  If it wilted I'd adjust the air it was getting.  It didn't lose a single leaf and is doing fine.

Good luck with yours.

Edit for clarity:  I potted the air layer first and then put the pot inside of the five gallon bucket.

Hi,
I had that happen to me, and that was a lesson learned.
I now wait a bit more to have good roots. The dirt should be hold together by the roots. If most of the dirt can crumble, just wait more time.
I have one airlayer that stayed during the Winter because there were'nt enough roots.
I'll check it in June for removal ( or not)...
By the way, I lost the airlayer that the roots broke upon potting ...

I used soil that was too heavy (clay based) the first time I tried an AL. The weight pulled most of the roots off as I cut the plastic off. It was touch and go but they survived. Use a light mix like coir.