Awkward arakawa maple air layer

[CptnGlyn]

Hi guys, first post here! I recently acquired an Acer palmatum ‘arakawa’ nursery plant, and intend to air layer out a few sections over the coming few years. Unfortunately the nursery had it bound pretty tightly to a stake and a very tight fork has formed as a result as both stems were in the tie.

ideally I’d like to air layer out one side of the fork this year, and then maybe the other next year, but I think it’s gonna be a pain as the stems are so up against each other.

I’m considering ring barking one side, and wrapping the moss/pot of soil around both sides rather than trying to fit something between them, but will this affect the non-ringbarked stem, or will it just carry on as usual?

mother option is to ring bark them both, and layer them both together, and then separate them at a later date, but I’m concerned my air layering skill might not be up to scratch and both will die...

Any thoughts?

Cheers!

 

[BrianBay9]

I would do them both at once. Looks like each has enough growth above to drive root development. Another option would be to first air layer higher on each stem, where the space between is easier to access.

 

[leatherback]

Do both of them at the same time.

 

[CptnGlyn]

Cheers guys, I will go for them both at once then. Im thinking of using the ‘pot of akadama’ rather than ‘bag of sphagnum’, i understand they may be easier to separate from each other using that method... would you suggest attempting to separate them when I cut the layers off, or leaving them together until next year (but cut from the mother plant) and splitting them up next spring?

 

[BrianBay9]

Cheers guys, I will go for them both at once then. Im thinking of using the ‘pot of akadama’ rather than ‘bag of sphagnum’, i understand they may be easier to separate from each other using that method... would you suggest attempting to separate them when I cut the layers off, or leaving them together until next year (but cut from the mother plant) and splitting them up next spring?

It depends. If you're patient enough and the roots have hardened you can separate immediately. If the roots are still fragile or they're really tangled then plant and wait.

 

[CptnGlyn]

I doubt this is keeping anyone up at night, but sometimes it’s nice to update.

I did them both at once as advised, and separated them in the same year, potting them separately.

In the spring 22, I repotted and cleared out the sphagnum and stump at the base, and then popped them into pond baskets, where they have been ever since.

I also took a third Airlayer from another branch on the original parent, leaving one more ‘arakawa’ stem on it for next year…

 

[Srt8madness]

Nice!! Well done.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Woohoooo!

SUCCESS!