Ants and Airlayers

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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Ants and Airlayers

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blueboy1977

Registered:1375760370
Posts: 459

Posted 1407125927	Reply with quote #1

I started several air layers on different varieties of figs about a month ago and this week I started peeling back the foil to take a peep inside and see what it looks like. Everyone of them had roots with the exception of the only VDB that I air layered for a fellow forum member. I had noticed that all the leafs were drooping on it and the leafs didn't perk up after watering. Then after closer inspection I noticed a little line of ants marching to and from the foil ball to the soil in the pot. I removed the plastic bag and there were a bunch of the white/yellow nodes all over the stem but none produced roots. The cambium layer was actually starting to rot but I couldn't tell it was from gnat larva. I'm wondering if the ants just ate the roots that were forming or did they just rot off? I'm sure the ants had something to do with its failure but cant quite put my fingers on exactly what they did. __________________ Rob Zone 9a/9b were the too meet. South Houston Tx Growing: Black Madeira, Smith, LSU Scott's Black, Improved Celeste, VDB, MBvs, RDB, Unknown Peach/Apricot, Salce, Malta Black, Texas BA-1, JH Adriatic, Atreano, CDDN, CDDB, CDDG, Strawberry Verte

Quackmaster

Registered:1370361410
Posts: 769

Posted 1407135068	Reply with quote #2

I had ants get in some of my air layers and they rooted fine. Some air layers took a lot longer then others. Are you sure yours grew roots, maybe the roots didn't start growing. __________________ Ryan Zone 9a SeLa, wish list:

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1407146015	Reply with quote #3

Hi Blueboy1977, Some times airlayering/rooting doesn't work. But ants are no good for sure. I would replace all the medium from the airlayer and restart the process . Check if the ants are in the pot, as they would disturb the roots of your tree, and you could loose the tree. I would fully soak the pot in water for 30 minutes, out of water and then put quarters of lemons and lemon juice on dirt and bark of the tree and check that ants stay out of the pots. A month for roots at airlayers ... You were quick ! Good luck ! __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

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