bonsaichile
Omono
Can you airlayer a Douglas fir? How well do they take it? tourniquet method or not? Thanks!
I agree, they do not appear to be good candidates for air layering, but i have never tried it, nor heard of anyone attempting to airlayer a Douglas Fir. They are native to this area and grow throughout my acreage but i have not used them for Bonsai.I think it’s unlikely that doug fir will be an good air layering candidate. I’ve never seen any sign of natural ground layering in the wild and in pots they don’t seem to readily generate new roots from trunk bases where roots don’t already exist. With a young tree the slow tourniquet method may work but I wouldn’t count on it.
It killed the one with which I tried this (actually, the tourniquet was on the tap root, just below the root collar). I figure root grafting will be in the future IF any of my Dougies ever develops an interesting trunk (which reminds me, I haven't yet tried grafting them).With a young tree the slow tourniquet method may work but I wouldn’t count on it.
Thank you, guys! I collected one yesterday, a beautuful twin trunk, but once it was out of the crag it was growing in, we realized it was not only too high for a double trunk, but it also had reverse taper. It was already put, so I took it with me. If it survives, I might try to do some root grafts in a couple years, as @Osoyouung suggested.
Shucks!Per Ryan Neils Live stream this week Rocky Mtn Doug Fir should not be messed with for 3 years after collection. Will be in archive to watch in few days. Hope for survival. Can you supply photo(s)?
thank you, @Osoyoung!I see that Hormex says Douglas fir can be rooted using 3kppm IBA.
As such, it must be possible to air-layer - just be sure there also is foliage below the girdle to feed the roots.
Well, the best way to answer this question is to try a few. I have several volunteers growing on the acreage. They cropped up on a slope we cleared for a road down to the meadow. The time of year is about right for most air layering so i will give it a go. I have not used Douglas Fir for bonsai, just the Sub Alpine Fir.I have always thought Doug Fir would layer, at least here, here being anywhere west of the Cascades. There is a very strange occurrence, in terms of conifers, that only the Doug Fir will do. When cut off at the stump the stump will callous over and create what is known as a 'living stump'. I'm not sure how this happens, but it is a great amount of callousing.
I have also seen ground layered Doug Fir in old logging sites. It may be our milder winter climate allows this to happen in this area. Could be just the difference between Rocky Mt Doug Fir and Oregon Doug Fir?
Am I correct in my logical assumption that trees that callous well should air layer well?
I have always thought Doug Fir would layer, at least here, here being anywhere west of the Cascades. There is a very strange occurrence, in terms of conifers, that only the Doug Fir will do. When cut off at the stump the stump will callous over and create what is known as a 'living stump'. I'm not sure how this happens, but it is a great amount of callousing.
I have also seen ground layered Doug Fir in old logging sites. It may be our milder winter climate allows this to happen in this area. Could be just the difference between Rocky Mt Doug Fir and Oregon Doug Fir?
No idea about that assumption. Callussing is a step in root production so the thought seems logical. i do agree that after that period of time the stumps must be drawing from the underground network somehow. Easy to visualize that after seeing the connections during various collecting efforts, and the surprises one digs up that are not apparent on the surface.Am I correct in my logical assumption that trees that callous well should air layer well?