Air Layer Pines?

[leatherback]

Here are roots after approx. 18 months

these roots look awfully like dead needles?

 

[Diggumsmack2]

these roots look awfully like dead needles?

Ha ha, yes they do now that you point it out. I did pull them up from the ground as this was just an experiment. The fine roots got left in the dirt. I assure you they are roots. Here is a close up shot, days and days after discovery, so they are dried out.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Definetely its a cool method to propagate Pines specially JBP, If I would try it I would do it in a very vigorous tree in the ground or large container, airlayering the uper and most strong shoot, not do it in branches more than 2 or 3 years old, using a pomice-akadama mix maybe with some sphagnum mixed and rooting hormones