CWTurner
Omono
So I have a landscape crabapple that I needed to prune back for aesthetic reasons, and instead of just chopping off the offending limbs, I thought that I would apply some air layers...like about a half dozen. This was during an unusual February/March warm spell.
A few days ago I figured that I've given them enough time and unwrapped a couple.
This first one I tried to make the air layer close to the trunk, where the base of the branch flared.
View attachment 113428
While it rooted nicely, unfortunately, the all those roots emanated from an area above the flare. But I do have those little nubbins that will turn into roots. I planted this in the ground until the spring of 2018.
One lesson that I keep forgetting is to shred the sphagnum moss when I'm not using NAPA 8022, which I did on a larger, upright limb.
This second one had lots of roots, but as it has more bonsai potential , so I didn't want to harvest it just yet. Before (backside view), and now.
View attachment 113432
View attachment 113429
The roots followed the "shrink wrap" that I used to enclose the sphagnum moss, all the way around the adjoining trunk. I peeled the roots loose and cut a pot to fit the crotch and added sphagnum moss to the pot and top and wrapped it all up again.
View attachment 113431
I'll probably harvest this air layer after the leaves drop and also put it in the ground.
One lesson that I keep forgetting is to shred the sphagnum moss when I'm not using NAPA 8022, which I did on a larger, upright limb.
There are still a lot of layers to harvest. I believe that I could open a bonsai starter business if I had a few more crabs . Very easy air layering.
CW
A few days ago I figured that I've given them enough time and unwrapped a couple.
This first one I tried to make the air layer close to the trunk, where the base of the branch flared.
View attachment 113428
While it rooted nicely, unfortunately, the all those roots emanated from an area above the flare. But I do have those little nubbins that will turn into roots. I planted this in the ground until the spring of 2018.
One lesson that I keep forgetting is to shred the sphagnum moss when I'm not using NAPA 8022, which I did on a larger, upright limb.
This second one had lots of roots, but as it has more bonsai potential , so I didn't want to harvest it just yet. Before (backside view), and now.
View attachment 113432
View attachment 113429
The roots followed the "shrink wrap" that I used to enclose the sphagnum moss, all the way around the adjoining trunk. I peeled the roots loose and cut a pot to fit the crotch and added sphagnum moss to the pot and top and wrapped it all up again.
View attachment 113431
I'll probably harvest this air layer after the leaves drop and also put it in the ground.
One lesson that I keep forgetting is to shred the sphagnum moss when I'm not using NAPA 8022, which I did on a larger, upright limb.
There are still a lot of layers to harvest. I believe that I could open a bonsai starter business if I had a few more crabs . Very easy air layering.
CW