After rummaging through the recycling bin I set up four ALs following the instructions, and was quite pleased with how easy they were in make and install. Plus, I like the thriftiness of reusing these deli containers we get olives in!  I did set up two on the same variety, at the base of this year's growth where the shoots had begun to lignify and one I did not scarify or girdle, just to see what the difference will be.

Love this method!  I owe a few air layers to a few people and JD is on my case about saving those deli containers.  I have a lot of the big ones, 6" x 8.5 x 4"   I LOVE EASY!  Thanks!

Suzi

I am so happy to hear such positive feedback about this method. A few years back one member posted photos of some of his air layers. I noticed that he was using these containers and so I figured out how he put them together. Since then, I have gotten away from using plastic bags. It is important to wrap aluminum foil around these things to reflect the sun's heat. I try to recycle foil that has been used for household stuff that isn't soiled with food, etc.

I will post photos of how to remove the container and pot the air layer in the coming weeks. I have several that will be ready soon.

Eugene, I like your idea about the welding iron. I can make the cuts pretty fast with a scissor but the iron sounds like something to consider.

I went to the dollar store today and got five of those tiny containers for $1 and did the first Air Layer following this method. It's fast and simple. Thank You.
Was wondering if you lost any after removing it.

Nice system. I'm not sure if this will work in a large air layer yet but might be worth a try to lose the weight, to just add some wet cotton balls into the container instead of mix.  Apparently fig air layers will root without anything other than moisture in a dark space.

Here's a few after 27 days in empty foil balls, moisture having gotten into them by whatever means.

 

 

 

Here is Emalyn's Purple that had four wet cotton balls added to the foil ball.

 

She was removed and potted, seems to be ok so far.  

  

Charlie, you blow my mind man.

Thank you, nice alternative. Do you have to re-wet the cotton balls to keep them from drying out? I will experiment here in NM but it gets real hot. You are right that it would work better for small air layers. The larger air layers really need an advanced root ball to survive. It does not look like you ring the bark either.

Sas, I have never lost an air layer doing this method.

I dont speak russian, but i like the way this air layer is secured.

What great ideas! Thanks for sharing guys!
We're in the middle of doing some air layers, and yes it gets old trying to keep the plastic bags secured while filling with soil, etc. Definitely going to try this!

Wish me luck Mr. Leon I packed mine with Sphagnum moss which isn't my favorite next time potting soil 

   

Hi all.
I just wanted to ad, in the container method make sure the container is well secured because it will easily spin and break the roots.
Vito

Great minds think alike Vito 


 

I like that Dave

Nice Job Dave. I sometimes tie the container to another branch for the same reason.

Ok guys, I promised to show you how I remove an air layer and pot it up.

Here I am pruning the air layer from the mother tree.
 
  
 

 

I place a layer of potting soil in the bottom of the pot, then I estimate where the air layer will fit before removing the plastic container.
 
You should be able to remove the rootball intact from its plastic container.  

 

Then center it in the pot and fill in with potting soil.
 

Water the soil around the root ball to fill in any gaps.
 

Pot up is finished. Now to place under a tent for a few days.
 

My cloche is made from a 5 gal water bottle with the bottom cut off. In this case if the air layer is too tall for the cloche to cover it completely, I'll set the one gallon pot inside of an empty 5 gallon container as a spacer. Then I'll place the cloche over this. They work well for me. Everyone has their own method.
 
 
I keep my air layers under this plastic tent in the shade for a few days. The cap comes off after two days and I wean the plant when I see no wilting of leaves. You can certainly use a sheet of plastic and bamboo sticks to do the same thing.
 
 



  

Hi Leon.
I thought of using those containers for frost protection in the spring for my tomatoes.
Good Idea.
Vito

Wow this is very cool! I have been wanting to try an air layer but put it off for this year, now I know how I'll do it next year. Does it hurt a tree to have more than one air layer at a time? Thanks for sharing.

Vito- Go to your local bottle water company and ask them for their bottle rejects and defects. They give them to me for free. I use a hand saw to cut the bottoms off. Make sure you get the plastic caps with the bottles. Depending on where you make the cut, the bottle can fit perfectly over the rim of a 5 gallon nursery container.

(BTW- the air layer in those last photos is the Aldo's I promised you!)


Devlsgro- you can do multiple air layers on a tree but if the tree is young, I only do one air layer per main branch.

Thank you leon_edmund

Here's a post that I made on those plastic cloche bottles.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/improvised-tent-for-fig-air-layers-7493598?highlight=cloche&pid=1287843750

Thank you very much Leon, It looks beautiful!

Vito

Is it generally preferred to leave the roots as is when potting up?  Years back the general advice when transplanting (not just figs) was to pull out some of the roots that wound around the container wall. This supposedly would encourage root spreading and healthier growth.

Great job Leon I like the idea of using potting soil instead of Sphagnum moss and you hit it out of the park with the water bottle humidity dome good job How long did it take from start to finish to see roots ?