Air layering a large collected juniper

[Hartinez]

I collected this one seed juniper (juniperus monosperma) spring 2017. It’s huge. Multiple trunks coming from one point. I’d like to air layer a branch or 2. The problem is, there is a vein of deadwood running through each desired branch to layer. Will this be an issue? I’ve never layered a juniper. Only thinner deciduous material. I’ve read that junipers only need a tightened aluminum wire with a bag with soil. Unlike a deciduous layer with a 2” cut and hormone. This is how I’ve had success. First pic is the desired trunk/branch.

 

[Hartinez]

I’ve seen another thread on here that says junipers can layer well. It’s the deadwood vein I’m unsure how to handle. Would make a continuous ring of either exposed cambium or a turnicut near impossible.

 

[vaibatron]

Honestly I would try to incorporate that brAnch into the design. It’s a cool piece of material that has a lot of potential.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Depending on the tightness of the foliage I would keep the branches for now. Normal ring would work, ignore the shari, it's just dead wood. Not a fan of tourniquet.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Yes, they layer well. Just be sure you don’t want the branch first, always best to use as much of the tree as possible.

 

[CamdenJim]

What do you think about using your potential air-layer as the mother/primary trunk, trimming the other trunk (and its growth) as the daughter/secondary in its future life? Somehow I see a better option that way, but I have only photos to go on.

 

[Hartinez]

Honestly I would try to incorporate that brAnch into the design. It’s a cool piece of material that has a lot of potential.

That was my original thought. But i can’t help but think it’d be too busy. I’m not sold on the layer idea, but every time I look at it I see two distinct trees in there. I’m in no rush as I want to ensure a high quality process and design.

 

[Hartinez]

Yes, they layer well. Just be sure you don’t want the branch first, always best to use as much of the tree as possible.

Hi Brian. Thanks for responding. Your trees and blog/website are on point. Def one of my early inspirations when I began 7 yrs ago. Anyways. I’m not certain it’s got to go. But I feel like the tree has two halves. To the left of center, more slanted with a possible potting angle change and deadwood the three branches to the right or vice versa. Deadwood the left trunk and wire the right three.

If I decide to layer, would the large deadwood vein pose a problem in encouraging root growth? I wouldn’t think so, but just not sure. Would be the largest branch I’ve layered. And only conifer. It’s a nice piece of material and something I’d like to see finish with a great design.

 

[Hartinez]

Depending on the tightness of the foliage I would keep the branches for now. Normal ring would work, ignore the shari, it's just dead wood. Not a fan of tourniquet.

That was my original thought. There is a ton of great branching and ramification already and quite honestly leaving all of it is a tad overwhelming. My plan is to continue to feed and study the tree and get it to a work shop with Tod Schlafer here in Abq who comes through our club a couple times a year. I don’t want my inexperience to taint the final design.

 

[Hartinez]

What do you think about using your potential air-layer as the mother/primary trunk, trimming the other trunk (and its growth) as the daughter/secondary in its future life? Somehow I see a better option that way, but I have only photos to go on.

That’s a thought. I’m either way really. There is a TON of foliage throughout and the thought of leaving it all seems like a lot. I prob won’t do anything drastic till next season. I’ll prob get it into some better substrate here in a month or so.

 

[PaulH]

For me, collected junipers are all about the deadwood. I would consider keeping the left branch with its deadwood and turning the whole right side into deadwood too.

 

[Hartinez]

For me, collected junipers are all about the deadwood. I would consider keeping the left branch with its deadwood and turning the whole right side into deadwood too.

Agreed. And ultimately, I believe this will be the direction I’ll go. Though my created deadwood will never be what Mother Nature creates, this tree is need of something. There is currently a ton of foliage coming from every trunk/branch.

 

[vaibatron]

There is currently a ton of foliage coming from every trunk/branch.

This is not a bad problem!

 

[Hartinez]

This is not a bad problem!

Your right! But very little deadwood. I collected with the intention of creating my own. This is why I was thinking of layering. Might be able to have a second tree with tons of foliage if that branch will be killed anyways.

 

[LanceMac10]

Definitely do the work with someone with a good deal of experience if your unsure of your skill level. Looks to be a great piece of material. Potential to be a nice big tree : Impressive scale.
Try and have a "final" vision and a long term plan for horticultural care and strength if you do the work yourself. Progress will be slow, but if kept healthy, they'll be something to work with down the road!
Hack and wack when your just feeling your way thru the maze of container growing doesn't always end well.
Does seem that your a fairly reasoned person, that helps!! Good luck with it, I like it and if was closer I'd slow play it and swindle it from you!!!

 

[Hartinez]

Good luck with it, I like it and if was closer I'd slow play it and swindle it from you!!!

Im far to reasoned to allow myself to be swindled!!! haha!! honestly though if you ever seem to be in the southwest, specifically ABQ area, there are heaps and heaps of these Juniper EVERYWHERE, and are a relatively untapped species for Bonsai. The Pinon pine as well. I could take you out to some killer collection spots. Any who, time will certainly be taken on this beast. Up to this point I've killed and made great trees out of enough nursery trees and small collected trees to feel comfortable moving forward. Most of my deaths are from lack of patience and pushing a material far too hard, or the New Mexico sun just being too dam intense. I just love this forum to bounce material and ideas. Criticism, constructive and non, only helps in my opinion. I will certainly be moving slow with this guy as Id love it to be something special and to get others excited about Juniperus Monosperma. Im going to do a sketch (attempt at least) of what I envision for the "final" design. I'll keep this thread updated over the years for sure.

Heres a thread from another one seed I collected. This one I've got a much better idea of the finish. Ive already started cleaning up the deadwood. https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/one-seed-juniper-juniperus-monosperma-styling.32588/

 

[Hartinez]

A bit crude. But here was my thought.

 

[sorce]

The problem is, there is a vein of deadwood running through each desired branch to layer. Will this be an issue?

Just because every air layer you see done has a pot, or bag that goes all the way around the trunk.....doesn't mean you have to do it that way. I wouldn't want to wrap and soggy that DW. Unless that was the desired outcome.
But too....a good front will have DW and Live hitting the soil in view.
So that DW would make a good front...so if you don't put any bag in front of the DW, roots can't grow across the front of your possible future tree, so you don't have to cut or move them later. (Hort +1 design +1)

So its worth a simple effort to "adjust" imo.
You can tack the bag to the edge of the DW and cut it from the face. Then go about filling the rest of the bag with Sphag.

Sorce

 

[Eric Group]

So, logistically the deadwood will be a problem if you want a radial root spread on the layer as, obviously, deadwood won’t root... I can’t tell from the pic but if it is a large vein of deadwood that could leave you with a horribly unbalanced root system... You will have to decide that yourself.

Additionally, A tree just collected last year, especially a Juniper... Is not likely to be healthy and vigorous enough to layer easily. Most people want to give 2-3 or more years to let a Juniper recover from being collected before doing major work... I would let it grow at least one more season until is is pushing really long runners before working this one or doing any sort of major surgery like removing a huge branch... for a layer to be successful you need a really healthy tree, lots of new growth (especially if doing the wire tourniquet method) and it is probably not at that stage yet if just collected last year.

 

[Hartinez]

So, logistically the deadwood will be a problem if you want a radial root spread on the layer as, obviously, deadwood won’t root... I can’t tell from the pic but if it is a large vein of deadwood that could leave you with a horribly unbalanced root system... You will have to decide that yourself.

Thanks for the thought. I feel like this is the best reason not to try and layer. That left branch in particular. The others to the right may be doable but I like the grouping on those. Id hate to kill an entire branch on such large material in order to "make" deadwood. But it may be what I need to do, in order to fulfill the vision I've got.