How large of a branch can one air layer?

[ETN_bonsai]

Hello all.

There is a fairly large American red maple growing in my backyard. I’ve been eye-balling low hanging outer branches for an attempted air layering. My question is- how large (in diameter) can I go? The largest I’ve been considering are probably 3-4 inches in diameter. Their bark has already started to scale/fissure. Would these take? Or would I be better served to go for smaller ones?

 

[leatherback]

3-4 inches works, no problem.

There is no theoretical maximum, as long as you give the tree enough time to build rootmass. At some point you create layers so big that the bottom will decay before it closes over the cut.

 

[ETN_bonsai]

That’s good to hear. I might get myself into trouble knowing that. There is one branch with mature bark that’s maybe in the 5-6” range. I need to trim these branches anyways, so I might as well experiment.

 

[Coppersdad]

I was successful with a 4 inch Malus branch. But, to get sufficient root mass did take two growing seasons. Yes, I'm in zone 8a. And, I think I probably had more luck than skill.

 

[ETN_bonsai]

I think I’m in 7A.
How does the size of host tree affect an air layering, if at all? This maple is probably 50 years old and probably 8-10’ in circumference at chest height.

 

[leatherback]

8-10’ in circumference

Do you mean diameter? 10 inch circumference is a small tree for 50 years.

I doubt size of the tree matters much

 

[ETN_bonsai]

Do you mean diameter? 10 inch circumference is a small tree for 50 years.

I doubt size of the tree matters much

10’ not 10”. I’d imagine it’s about 10 feet, though I’ve never measured it. I do have some old oaks in the 12-16 feet range.

 

[Cajunrider]

3-4 inches works, no problem.

There is no theoretical maximum, as long as you give the tree enough time to build rootmass. At some point you create layers so big that the bottom will decay before it closes over the cut.

I have seen air layers for bonsai as big as 14” in diameter. The ones I saw were ficus and tamarind.

 

[leatherback]

10’ not 10”. I’d imagine it’s about 10 feet, though I’ve never measured it. I do have some old oaks in the 12-16 feet range.

Really? 10' is bigger than 10'' ? I will never understand those measures I guess.

Still.. Why use circumference, unless you are a forrester doing biomass assessments of course.

 

[ETN_bonsai]

I’m not entirely sure why inches is denoted as “ and feet as ‘. But it’s less confusing than the various gauge measurements.


Circumference at chest level is a measurement I’m familiar with. I took some forestry related classes back in high school, and my father did some local logging when he was younger. I suppose it’s a carry over from those instances. And it’s easier to measure than true diameter. My dial calipers only work out to about 6” or .5’.

 

[leatherback]

I took some forestry related classes

Figured as much

unless you are a forrester

 

[nuttiest]

Really? 10' is bigger than 10'' ? I will never understand those measures I guess.

tbf, he did say american maple

 

[leatherback]

tbf, he did say american maple

? not sure I follow how this affect me understanding the US measurementsystem?

 

[nuttiest]

? not sure I follow how this affect me understanding the US measurementsystem?

It's a joke, laugh dammit. American maple, American measurements. Ahhhh, it was funny to me at the time.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

It you’re going to lop off the branch anyway what do you have to lose. I would wait until the leaves start to bud out in the spring to start. I’ve been told the sugars produced by the leaves encourages the cambium to send out roots.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

Do you mean diameter? 10 inch circumference is a small tree for 50 years.

I doubt size of the tree matters much

The number pi times diameter equals circumference. If it’s 10’ circumference devide by pi to get the diameter pi is 3.14 do that would be about 3 feet. She’s a big girl.

 

[leatherback]

The number pi times diameter equals circumference. If it’s 10’ circumference devide by pi to get the diameter pi is 3.14 do that would be about 3 feet. She’s a big girl.

Well thanks for explaining highschool math to me .

 

[ETN_bonsai]

Well thanks for explaining highschool math to me .

I didn’t pick that up until my second year of college.

 

[leatherback]

I didn’t pick that up until my second year of college.

lol, where did you go to school?

 

[Gabler]

I was about to comment I learned to find the circumference and area of a circle in the fifth grade. Possibly earlier, but definitely I was measuring circles on March 14, 2006, in Mrs. Fletcher's fifth-grade math class. Pi day was a big deal in her class. We ate pies and everything.

In any case, it's basic arithmetic. Multiply a couple of numbers together, and you have your answer.