I need help with this Tamarack air layer attempt. 🙏

[Eckhoffw]

This light pole straight Tamarack has movement at the very top.
I ringed and potted to air layer this tree in late May.

About a month ago, I checked the moss ball for roots but didn’t see a thing.
There was a good callus forming around the top.

I scraped of the callus, and the ringed area more. + added more rooting hormone.

A month later, I’ve checked the Moss ball and saw a few thick roots forming.

That’s cool, but the top is losing color so I’m not sure how to proceed as we are coming in to fall. You can see all the long new growth it has made up top.

Wondering if I just leave it be?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Seems like it's giving up on the old vascular system in favor of the new one. To my knowledge, they're pretty hardy and their natural range freezes to quite the depth.
I would leave it be.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Seems like it's giving up on the old vascular system in favor of the new one. To my knowledge, they're pretty hardy and their natural range freezes to quite the depth.
I would leave it be.

Ah, ok. If I’m understanding,the yellowing may be due to it starting to use the limited/small new roots instead the old.

Thank you for your help.
I’m going to leave it alone and check next spring.

Would you trim it up top maybe early spring?
Or just let the tree decide what it wants to keep?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Yes, I think it's either transitioning and compartmentalizing the system, or it is dying up top. In the latter case there's not much you can do. In the former case, it's exactly what you'd want.

I would leave everything and let the tree decide, at least until you see a solid amount of roots. Since it's transitioning from old to new roots, any open wounds would punch a hole in that newly forming sap loop, affecting turgor and healing.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Yes, I think it's either transitioning and compartmentalizing the system, or it is dying up top. In the latter case there's not much you can do. In the former case, it's exactly what you'd want.

I would leave everything and let the tree decide, at least until you see a solid amount of roots. Since it's transitioning from old to new roots, any open wounds would punch a hole in that newly forming sap loop, affecting turgor and healing.

Thank you very much.