Ground layer a Stewartia

[ForrestW]

Good morning,
I have a stewartia that was given to me as the roots are very problematic. I tried last year to do a hard prune of the roots-- removing a lot of the awkward ones and some scoring of the trunk about where I wanted to new shoots to grow, but did not have any success getting new roots to come out there. (Part of that was probably it was too close to the surface and did not stay moist enough) But this year I want to go ahead to do a complete ground layer right about where the flare starts. My questions are
1. what time is best for this
2. should I repot it into a deeper container now so that I can just fill the soil up to properly bury the area I want new roots from.
3. If I repot this year-- do I just go ahead and do the ground layer at the same time as the re-pot?

Sorry I do not have a photo of the tree but can try and post one tomorrow if that would help- trunk is about 2" across.

 

[bwaynef]

1. what time is best for this
2. should I repot it into a deeper container now so that I can just fill the soil up to properly bury the area I want new roots from.
3. If I repot this year-- do I just go ahead and do the ground layer at the same time as the re-pot?

1. There's some discussion whether layering at bud-push is better/worse than after leaves harden. I've done it both ways but didn't see a ton of benefit doing it at bud-push. I may do that yet, but I think the bulk of my airlayers will from now on be after leaves harden.
2. Assuming the soil its in now isn't otherwise problematic, I'd build UP to create a pot of sorts for the new roots to infiltrate. This provides oxygen to the existing rootball while also giving new roots space.
3. If you're planning to abandon existing roots, there's no need to repot them. There will be a recovery period that will slow things down as well as reduced capacity to transport nutrients/water ...further slowing things.

 

[ForrestW]

1. There's some discussion whether layering at bud-push is better/worse than after leaves harden. I've done it both ways but didn't see a ton of benefit doing it at bud-push. I may do that yet, but I think the bulk of my airlayers will from now on be after leaves harden.
2. Assuming the soil its in now isn't otherwise problematic, I'd build UP to create a pot of sorts for the new roots to infiltrate. This provides oxygen to the existing rootball while also giving new roots space.
3. If you're planning to abandon existing roots, there's no need to repot them. There will be a recovery period that will slow things down as well as reduced capacity to transport nutrients/water ...further slowing things.

Thank you for sharing that all makes good sense.

 

[dbonsaiw]

I never did it, but believe they can be layered successfully.

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab/files/research/files/Stewartia%20review%20article-Ajay.pdf

 

[Ruddigger]

Around here we tend to do layers at bud push because by the time the initial flush hardens off its too hot to start layering.

I can see the advantage of doing it later in other climates though.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Around here we tend to do layers at bud push because by the time the initial flush hardens off its too hot to start layering.

Goes to show how important it is to tailor our bonsai learning to our climate. Living in NY, this is so not an issue that I wouldn't even have thought have it.

 

[bwaynef]

Around here we tend to do layers at bud push because by the time the initial flush hardens off its too hot to start layering.

I can see the advantage of doing it later in other climates though.

Interesting that according to this link, I get hotter sooner than you do. I suspect the humidity difference to go with the heat plays a part though.
https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/...-the-Average-Weather-in-Clemson-and-Montclair <edited to add the link!>

Another reason you might want to airlayer at first flush would be if you intend to develop the piece that remains, and would like to begin that development earlier. That came up in conversation tonight.

 

[Ruddigger]

Interesting that according to this link, I get hotter sooner than you do. I suspect the humidity difference to go with the heat plays a part though.


Another reason you might want to airlayer at first flush would be if you intend to develop the piece that remains, and would like to begin that development earlier. That came up in conversation tonight.

Most likely our heat is different. We spend weeks at 110°+.