Multiple air layers or no?

[Bmcghan22]

Hi I’m new to bonsai I recently got a sharps pygmy and someone suggested cutting it back to get better ramifications and instead of just cutting it I was wondering if I could air layer 3 parts of the tree at the same time. I was thinking of air layering each one of the three main branches coming out of the trunk about 2-3” up.

 

[Dav4]

Assuming the tree is healthy/grew strongly last year, and as long as there's adequate foliage to support the development of roots at each layer, you're good to go. I've done this on several A.p.s with success, fwiw.

 

[Shibui]

Multiple layers are fine provided each has leaves above to help produce roots. In this case layering each branch will be no problem.

 

[Bmcghan22]

Assuming the tree is healthy/grew strongly last year, and as long as there's adequate foliage to support the development of roots at each layer, you're good to go. I've done this on several A.p.s with success, fwiw.

Yeah I frequently go to the nursery I got it from they take great care of their trees. It was very healthy I did repot it into some better draining soil. I had to cut some roots to get it in the pot it’s in it was pretty root bound. I heard of people doing multiple but just wanted to make sure before I tried i hear a lot about sap flow but I figured they would all come from the top and it shouldn’t be a problem with the way I was thinking. I was going to wait until about late may or June.

 

[rollwithak]

Only one per branch though.... can’t do one above the other on the same piece.

 

[caffeinated]

Only one per branch though.... can’t do one above the other on the same piece.

Actually you can, as long as there is foliage to support the layers. The original roots will continue to support the foliage and if there's foliage above each layer, they'll support the new root growth even if they're on the same branch or trunk.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

This tree deserves good proper work, the layers would be a very very secondary mission for me.

You're not getting anything interesting at 2-3in up, so I'd go higher, and probably do one at a time to not have what would turn into, 4 giant shade creating masses in the canopy.

That right side needs 2 of that 4 banger removed.

And this is nice enough material to stop allowing 3's or 4's elsewhere too.

Sorce