"Ant" Layer

[RichKid]

Good afternoon. I opened up one of the air layers I've started and I found a few roots. Along w the roots however there seems to be an infestation of ants w eggs and all. Essentially a colony. Should I be concerned about this? Will they damage the new roots or should I just leave them be? When I exposed them a good portion took off carrying the eggs with them. Thanks for any replies.

 

[0soyoung]

Wow! I've never had that happen.
I would have just tried to wash them away with a jet of water and replaced the sphanum with new and would not worry much more than that about it.

 

[zelk]

Do whatever you can to eradicate them. Ants are never good news. They are known to cultivate aphids. They are basically taking advantage of whatever water is in the air layer.

 

[RichKid]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I will replace the spaghnum now w perlite perhaps. I hear that's really good w layers and fresh roots. Maybe they won't like that as much. I wasn't sure if I could expose the roots like that. I know digging a tree this time of year can be deadly. I figured it was from root exposure. Shows how much I still have to learn. Even in my second year!

 

[RichKid]

 

[RichKid]

Not many roots after all . And I ended up knocking the one to the left off. There were some smaller lumps or beginnings there not really visible in the picture. I guess these cultivars really do have weaker roots. This is a sangu. I have a regular palmatum that I struck maybe a week before and it's full of roots. Some lignified. I'm thinking of separating it tonight. I'll be at my mothers later to take a look at it and possible bring it home.

 

[RichKid]

Any suggestions on how to separate it? It's a ground layer and pretty thick. Looking back I should have elevated the tub off the ground so I could slice right under it. Now I'll have to get creative. How will I know if it has enough roots? Sorry so many questions. These are my first layers ever.

 

[BethF]

I've had that happen. Twice. On the same tree. (A winged elm). Each time the layer did not take. I'm going to try one more time, using the pot filled with perlite as described by Eric a few weeks ago. If the third time isn't the charm, I'm giving up.

 

[RichKid]

What happened? Just a few roots? Did u leave it on or cut it off? I was under the impression that if it grows any roots that it took and it's just a matter of patience and letting the thing grow.

 

[0soyoung]

One data point does not make a trend.

• Sometimes one is lucky when 'doing' one's first air layers --> result is confidence and thinking stuff like 'this is so easy', or that 'I am a horticultural genius'.
• Sometimes one is unlucky --> result is loss of confidence and thinking this stuff is impossible and is 'a stupid thing to do'.

It is just easier to cope with failure and more fun when success comes first, that's all.

It is a pretty amazing thing that if one simply cuts off the flow of auxin and photosynthate, by making a girdle or applying a wire tourniquette, that anything good can happen. In fact, how does that happen?

Plants, trees in particular, are wierdly fascinating.

BTW, here's a pic to give you an idea of the 'amount' of air layer roots you want to see before harvesting.

 

[RichKid]

Wow that's a ton of roots for a thin branch! If that's the case I'm just gonna stop looking and leave it on till leaf drop and check it then! Lol thanks!