Air Layering Help

[Irfan]

I've bought these two JM a season ago. Been planning to air layer the big branches and then use the trunks to start a bonsai and use the air layers as bonsai material. Was wondering will the tree survive such radical change and what would be the best time to air layer. I've been taking care of them since I got them, fed them regularly and and I believe they are thriving. I did not repot any of them yet. They came in what I think is 50-50 organis and very coarse inorganic soil. I'd like to remind you that even though I made the account years ago I'm a beginner and very new to bonsai. I read tons about it but never seen it really had a chance to practice it as I do now.

P. S. One is Asahi Zuru, the other one is Bloodgood (i highly doubt that since after some research i discovered bloodgood never goes green like this)

 

[0soyoung]

You can cut the girdle for an air layer most anytime, but little will happen until the leaves are hardened. Your trees have some hardened leaves so you can do it now. I suggest that you remove the ring of bark (optionally apply rooting hormone to the top edge of the ring of missing bark) and leave it sit in the open air for a day or two. Then pack damp sphagnum around it and cover with plastic (or affix a pot of your bonsai substrate around it).

You can make more than one air layer at a time on any one tree, just be sure that there is foliage below the girdles and foliage between the girdles and roots. Then it is mostly a matter of just being patient. You should have adventitious roots before the fall equinox.

And, you are correct, Bloodgood doesn't ever turn green (it will get greenish in shade, late in the season.

 

[Irfan]

You can cut the girdle for an air layer most anytime, but little will happen until the leaves are hardened. Your trees have some hardened leaves so you can do it now. I suggest that you remove the ring of bark (optionally apply rooting hormone to the top edge of the ring of missing bark) and leave it sit in the open air for a day or two. Then pack damp sphagnum around it and cover with plastic (or affix a pot of your bonsai substrate around it).

You can make more than one air layer at a time on any one tree, just be sure that there is foliage below the girdles and foliage between the girdles and roots. Then it is mostly a matter of just being patient. You should have adventitious roots before the fall equinox.

And, you are correct, Bloodgood doesn't ever turn green (it will get greenish in shade, late in the season.

Thank you. So, considering your advice, I'll layer the branches above the thinnest bottom branch on both trees and will use that branch as a future leader. Hopefully it back buds nicely.