Chinese Elm Air Layer Removal

Katie0317

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Did the air layer take? It was an interesting technique with the rubbermaid container and lid. What happened with it, or is this it? Could you take a few more pics of both what was air layered and what was left.
 
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before the separation
 

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Did the air layer take? It was an interesting technique with the rubbermaid container and lid. What happened with it, or is this it? Could you take a few more pics of both what was air layered and what was left.
considering there was a rootball out of the tupperware, I would say so. I guess I wont know until spring. But look at all those roots! I would think so!
 
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I tried out one of these small circle air layer containers commonly sold on Amazon that my father in law bought me after seeing what I was doing, and I decided to cut it. Is this enough root to survive the size of the cutting? I think I should have waited.
 

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GGB

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It looks like the tree layered below the section you were attempting to layer based on the last photo. If that's the case, your air layer technically has no foliage unless it bridges that huge gap to the bark above it, which it probably wont
 
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It looks like the tree layered below the section you were attempting to layer based on the last photo. If that's the case, your air layer technically has no foliage unless it bridges that huge gap to the bark above it, which it probably wont
I’m not sure if I understand. The red circled area is where the air layer was made and covered. Are you saying the dead cambium layer scar won’t support the rest of the cutting? I did overdo it on the length of the air layer. I could have done a lot smaller.
 

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It looks like the tree layered below the section you were attempting to layer based on the last photo. If that's the case, your air layer technically has no foliage unless it bridges that huge gap to the bark above it, which it probably wont

I think I understand. The air layer sort of layered “upside down” from how I wanted it and I made too large of a cambium layer cut. So, what is likely to happen? It’s a pretty large thick branch with a lot of foliage. I put cutting paste when I separated it. Do you think I should strip the bark on the upper portion and apply rooting hormone?
 

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@JuniperMasterRace I described that quickly and poorly but it sounds like you got what I was saying. The roots are coming from an area of the tree that is below where the cambium is stripped off. I imagine that the top of your airlayer probably dried, out so the "top" part of the cambium (right below where the foliage starts, a.k.a the bottom of the airlayer once separated) never rooted. You have succesfully cloned the tree, it just happens to be a one inch section haha. I would cut off everything where the first section of bark ends. 99.9% chance the tree trows a leader and survives. If you want to try using the large laeafy upper section as a cutting you can but it seems like some of the bark has died back sicne the layer was attempted. Maybe make a fresh new cut into the top portion. Frankly though, I have to imagine it's pretty weak at this point and might not take
 
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@JuniperMasterRace I described that quickly and poorly but it sounds like you got what I was saying. The roots are coming from an area of the tree that is below where the cambium is stripped off. I imagine that the top of your airlayer probably dried, out so the "top" part of the cambium (right below where the foliage starts, a.k.a the bottom of the airlayer once separated) never rooted. You have succesfully cloned the tree, it just happens to be a one inch section haha. I would cut off everything where the first section of bark ends. 99.9% chance the tree trows a leader and survives. If you want to try using the large laeafy upper section as a cutting you can but it seems like some of the bark has died back sicne the layer was attempted. Maybe make a fresh new cut into the top portion. Frankly though, I have to imagine it's pretty weak at this point and might not take
Thanks I’ll give updates later how it turns out
 
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I have two CE air layers I started a year ago. I can see they have lots of roots. It doesn’t get below freezing where I live. Is it safe to separate?
 
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@JuniperMasterRace I described that quickly and poorly but it sounds like you got what I was saying. The roots are coming from an area of the tree that is below where the cambium is stripped off. I imagine that the top of your airlayer probably dried, out so the "top" part of the cambium (right below where the foliage starts, a.k.a the bottom of the airlayer once separated) never rooted. You have succesfully cloned the tree, it just happens to be a one inch section haha. I would cut off everything where the first section of bark ends. 99.9% chance the tree trows a leader and survives. If you want to try using the large laeafy upper section as a cutting you can but it seems like some of the bark has died back sicne the layer was attempted. Maybe make a fresh new cut into the top portion. Frankly though, I have to imagine it's pretty weak at this point and might not take
Update, that one died :( I was too impatient and did not allow enough roots to take. Also the bark stripped off was way too far apart so it rooted on the wrong side. Very good learning experience.
 
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Took about 9 months. Weather got hot here in so cal so I decided to remove it.


Phase 2 of the layer. This is the second air layer I have taken from the mother tree. It is now just down to a stump with a loooooong sacrifice branch to be pruned later. Onto phase 3. The goal is the bottom of the tree, I want to make it into a shohin bonsai, I will let it get strong this grow season and begin preparations to put it into a shallow and wide training pot for its final ceramic pot.
 
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Did the air layer take? It was an interesting technique with the rubbermaid container and lid. What happened with it, or is this it? Could you take a few more pics of both what was air layered and what was left.
I have had very good success, I probably wait longer than I should. I wait almost a year to separate. I’m planning on staying some more with the same technique.
 
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Is it safe to separate my air layer right now? September in Southern California. It’s been over a year, I meant to separate it earlier but I was delayed due to personal reasons.
 
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