Air layering my pomegranate trees "miserably"

[shahin]

HI everyone. I'm new here. So I have a bunch of pomegranate trees all rare ones. Being Persian, I know a thing or two about pomegranates but only when it comes to their tastes and eating them! I got introduced to "air layering" online. Got really excited and began doing a very half ass job hoping for grant results. Some of these trees you can't find just anywhere certainly not so easily here in the states like "kerman" "yazd" "saveh". you can research them actually. if you're into this fruit these trees are considered to be the limousine of pomegranates. Anyways, here's what I did; grabbed a few layers of aluminum foils and put some wet potting soil and rooting powder on it and just slapped it against the cut area and sort of wrapped it tight. no plastic bags no nothing. as I watched more videos on youtube I got slightly more sophesticated using plastic bags and so on before putting the aluminim on it for shading. 1, So my question is, do you think those sloppier jobs would ever propagate? 2, How the heck would I keep that soil moist or how would I even know if their are drying out or not? 3, should I use a better soil? I cut a lot of pine wood to make art frames so I got plenty of saw dust, would it be a good idea to mix that in? wouldn't that have unwanted chemicals in it though? 4, I took a syringe and began forcing some water into everyone of by half ass jobs this morning. How long would I have to be doing and really how do i really know if I even should or not? Any other tips would be tremendously appreciated. anyone in LA area feel free to give me a call with any good information in this regard. [EDIT]Removed the OP's cell phone number for his own protection If you wish to send him a text or give him a call, send him a PM first for his contact info [/EDIT] many thanks

 

[0soyoung]

In principle, all it takes is moisture around the top edge of the ring of missing bark - could be most anything that retains water and that roots can penetrate. You can simply remove the foil of your old attempts and replace it with your plastic bags of medium and save you a lot of daily trouble. Be careful to not break any nascent roots that you may have, but accidentally breaking them off means nothing more than starting over again - it won't damage the tree.

 

[shahin]

In principle, all it takes is moisture around the top edge of the ring of missing bark - could be most anything that retains water and that roots can penetrate. You can simply remove the foil of your old attempts and replace it with your plastic bags of medium and save you a lot of daily trouble. Be careful to not break any nascent roots that you may have, but accidentally breaking them off means nothing more than starting over again - it won't damage the tree.

But you think think leaving it alone as is would work?

 

[Cypress187]

Most people use moss (sphagnum) to keep it moist, also sealing it with plastic works good (and the aluminium foil for blocking sunlight).

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site!

And check out this thread:

The Science of Air-Layering

 

[JoeR]

I just cut this sloppy airlayer off yesterday, granted it’s a maple not a Pom. But it took well using standard bonsai soil, which is relatively dry, so I imagine potting soil is just fine honestly. It’s really not too complicated at all to airlayer. Just cut the ring of bark, use some sort of substrate, cover, and you’re golden.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Never ever post your number on public websites. People make crawlers that hunt for such info and let call centers get your info.
As for pommegrenate, I have struck 50 or so cuttings this spring, and they have been looking like dead sticks until they've rooted (now 4 months later). I had to throw out a bunch because there are just too many.

If you can keep the layers moist, count on at least a few to make roots, but they're slow. Painfully slow. And they can 'play dead' pretty well.
Even sloppy cutting jobs worked here, no rooting hormones applied.

Don't use sawdust, ever, it rots. Apart from phenols, preservatives and what not.. Potting soil isn't ideal but could work. Sphagnum is better.