Japanese Maple Droopy Leaves after Air Layer

[shirleytheviola]

I recently performed air layers on 3 of my maples and 2 are looking great! However, my Shindeshojo has seen better days. This is how he looked the day of the air layer (4/3/25):



~ 2 weeks later, he was still looking just fine (4/16/25):



But now 4.5 weeks after the air layer, he’s looking very limp and I am getting worried (5/5/25):



What should my next steps be? I have a pond basket I could quickly transfer him to (without disturbing the roots). Should I move him into more sun? Less sun? SOS, I’m at a complete loss here. Thank you bonsai nuts!

 

[bwaynef]

I'd say less sun and more humidity. No wind. A (makeshift if necessary) greenhouse would be preferable.

Has it received more sun or longer time between watering than the others? I've never had my airlayers droop afterward, but have seen leaves change, sort of like the VERY first bit of fall.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Personally, I've had issues with airlayering Shin Deshojo. I may try again and leave it in the shade after separating.

 

[namnhi]

Did the medium in the air layer part of the tree got dried out? If not I afraid the top is going to die fairly quickly... a total collapse of all the leave and the trunk/limbs will start turning black.

 

[ontherun]

Maybe your moss isn't wet enough?best of luck with your air layer!

 

[yashu]

Related to what @namnhi said… I’d be a little concerned with the size of the pouch for your air layer media, it looks quite small and could dry out very easily. It also appears t have very little room for roots should they start growing. If this were my project I would definitely increase the size of the plastic bag to be able to hold more sphagnum moss.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Did the medium in the air layer part of the tree got dried out? If not I afraid the top is going to die fairly quickly... a total collapse of all the leave and the trunk/limbs will start turning black.

That is a small amount of sphagnum moss…probably needs a bigger bag of moss.

 

[shirleytheviola]

Did the medium in the air layer part of the tree got dried out? If not I afraid the top is going to die fairly quickly... a total collapse of all the leave and the trunk/limbs will start turning black.

That is a small amount of sphagnum moss…probably needs a bigger bag of moss.

So I did increase the size of the bags around 2 weeks ago! I have kept them moist, watering the bags whenever the top of the sphagnum moss becomes a lighter color. The bags have always shown signs of condensation too. Given that I’m unsure what to do next!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Well. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. I always completely enclose the moss for my layers, and they usually need wringing out more than watering. The moss ball in the photo below is bigger than a softball.

‘Seigen’ Japanese Maple Air Layer

Since seeing a Seigen for the first time in Bonsai Today #47, I have wanted one. Finally, several years ago, an acquaintance on Bonsai Nut found a site offering them as grafts and I grabbed this on…

nebaribonsai.wordpress.com

 

[shirleytheviola]

I'd say less sun and more humidity. No wind. A (makeshift if necessary) greenhouse would be preferable.

Has it received more sun or longer time between watering than the others? I've never had my airlayers droop afterward, but have seen leaves change, sort of like the VERY first bit of fall.

I put a plastic pot with the bottom cut out at the base filled with my normal bonsai substrate. I took a peak at the air layer and saw no change from how it looked when I started (no swelling, no change in color, and definitely no roots). I recut ~1mm higher and applied some rooting hormone.

I then used a plastic bag (with some venting holes cut out) as a makeshift greenhouse to increase humidity. Praying this can do something to save him. Good news is that when I was recutting, I saw that the cambium layer above the layer was still green!

 

[Gonzoe]

I think you just need to put it in in-direct sun. I have a Shindeshojo in my collection as well and they’re super sensitive to light and wind. That might be it. Good luck

 

[clem]

I also had dehydration (end of May 2024) after putting a tourniquet on a small branche in spring of 2024 (you can compare the texture and the color of the leaves as the green leaves on the left are arakawa too) ->


But as soon as the branche produced roots, in the end of July/beginning of August, it produced new shoots and leaves very quick ->


You may be experiencing the same phenomenon as me, and I hope you see, in a few weeks, shoots emerging, which will be the sign that the layering was successful.