Airlayer not taking root

[Fred1991]

Hi everyone. I did a few airlayers in march, and i'm not seeing any root growth. The foliage on top of the girdle is healthy. I'm unsure whats best to do at this point. put the moss back and wait over summer or re expose the cambium and maybe carve away more of the trunk in case i left some cambium or maybe use a tourniquet ? i assumed after two months i would have seen some root growth. Btw i'm in the UK. Maybe it's not been warm enough for the roots to come out?

the pictures are from the ilex serrata and korean hornbeam. I also tried layering a hawthorn that neither has taken root yet.

 

[BrianBay9]

There's some callous forming there. That's the first step. Wrap them up again and wait.

 

[Fred1991]

Are there any dangers of taking them early? and side question are there any dangers in exposing them like this?

maple and the hawthorn.

 

[BrianBay9]

You need to see lots of roots before you separate them. Otherwise, you're just taking a big cutting. There's not much risk exposing these as long as you don't let the callous dry out. As roots begin to form any checking or messing with it will just break off new, delicate roots. So wrap it in something clear and wait until you can see lots of roots before you unwrap again.

 

[Shibui]

As above. Seems like you want to go faster than the plants. Let them guide you.
It is possible to separate layers like this and treat as a giant cutting but success is by no means assured, even under the best conditions. Far better to wait and allow the trees to make roots. Most layers take until mid summer to get good roots.

 

[sorce]

My guess is this is the very waner you get your roots on, not enough to remove it but they're coming.

Sorce

 

[RJG2]

Are there any dangers of taking them early?

By this, I'm guessing you meant "starting" the air layers early?

Not really, but nothing will really start happening until they are in leaf. So if they didn't leaf out until April, then it's really only been a month.

To echo others - the calluses look good, just rewrap and keep waiting.

 

[Pitoon]

Have patience.... also that sphagnum moss looks fairly dry. It needs to be moist to induce the roots.

 

[Lorax7]

Are there any dangers of taking them early? and side question are there any dangers in exposing them like this?

maple and the hawthorn.

In my experience, starting an air layer early is counterproductive. If you start the layer before the tree has finished putting out the first flush of spring leaves, the tree responds to the disruption of the cambium by reducing the size of the leaves it puts out. Ordinarily in bonsai we prefer smaller leaves, but it’s not helpful when air layering. Less photosynthetic surface area means less sugar is being produced and sent downward via the phloem to fuel development of new roots at the point where the cambium is disrupted. I would imagine less auxin is produced as well. You’re better off waiting until the leaves are full size and hardened off.

 

[Srt8madness]

Hi everyone. I did a few airlayers in march, and i'm not seeing any root growth. The foliage on top of the girdle is healthy. I'm unsure whats best to do at this point. put the moss back and wait over summer or re expose the cambium and maybe carve away more of the trunk in case i left some cambium or maybe use a tourniquet ? i assumed after two months i would have seen some root growth. Btw i'm in the UK. Maybe it's not been warm enough for the roots to come out?

the pictures are from the ilex serrata and korean hornbeam. I also tried layering a hawthorn that neither has taken root yet.

On these 3 pics, it almost looks like you left a strip of bark on the inside of the curve? Hard to tell from pics

 

[Fred1991]

There’s definitely no bark I even used a knob cutter to make sure there’s was so cambium. Since I had them open I put a tourniquet on to be sure.
Previous year I have taken successful airlayer however I’ve taken them in June and I was being impatient this year and started early which in return as made me nervous if had been risks to doing so. It’s only just started getting warm in the uk and although I don’t if that has any effect I’m hoping that is the reason there’s aren’t roots yet. Im gonna be patient!

Thank you everyone for replying