Overwatering / Spray / Airlay Attempt
- Thread starter nurvbonsai
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nurvbonsai
Mame
WIlliam_Butler_Yeets
Mame
Yes that appears to be algae. Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much, moss grows algae very quickly, and algae should not damage root growth by itself, as long as you are keeping the moisture level good for roots to grow.
nurvbonsai
Mame
Okay thanks. This was my first time to air layer. If successful what do you recommend next for growing it into bonsai short of putting into pot with substrate? Inevitably it will have to be cut short I imagine? I like the twin trunk idea. The material looks too straight at the moment. Thanks.
SeanS
Omono
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If your layer is so close to the soil line in the existing pot, why not just place a plastic pot with the bottom cut off into that existing pot and fill with soil around the layer site?
SeanS
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Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Succeed with the layer and get the new plant separated and keep it alive, then plan the next move
nurvbonsai
Mame
If I understand this correctly, there was inverse taper right at the edge of the soil line. I posted about this tree in another thread, my cut line ended up being too long.
SeanS
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A pot with the bottom cut out would have easily extended up to the necessary height
nurvbonsai
Mame
I guess I’m not understanding exactly what it would do. In theory yes, but practical sense, no.
SeanS
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Instead of a plastic bag and wire, use a plastic pot with the bottom cut out. Fill the pot with soil around the air layer cut. Water the tree as usual. Wait for roots
SeanS
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Here’s one I separated yesterday. Although this one was up in the air.
What I’m trying to say is that if the air layer position is so close to the existing soil line, don’t hassle with plastic and wires, make life easy for yourself and just use a pot with soil around the air layer site (where you made the cut and removed the bark)
What I’m trying to say is that if the air layer position is so close to the existing soil line, don’t hassle with plastic and wires, make life easy for yourself and just use a pot with soil around the air layer site (where you made the cut and removed the bark)
nurvbonsai
Mame
Got it. I’ll keep it in mind for next time. Thanks
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Wrapped moss air layers are good for places where you can't water every day but there are some drawbacks like possibility of overwatering, fungal attack, drying out, etc.
Where the tree is being watered whenever it's required, an open pot with similar potting soil seems to have less drawbacks. I've certainly had better success with open pots filled with potting soil than with wrapped moss layers.
For layers close to the existing pot, building the soil up to cover the layer cuts is much easier than wrapping. Even if you need to extend the existing pot with a collar of some sort, that's still easier than fiddling around tying a plastic wrap and moss. And it seems to be more reliable too.
Some green inside the plastic of an air layer is quite normal and rarely any need to worry.
Where the tree is being watered whenever it's required, an open pot with similar potting soil seems to have less drawbacks. I've certainly had better success with open pots filled with potting soil than with wrapped moss layers.
For layers close to the existing pot, building the soil up to cover the layer cuts is much easier than wrapping. Even if you need to extend the existing pot with a collar of some sort, that's still easier than fiddling around tying a plastic wrap and moss. And it seems to be more reliable too.
Some green inside the plastic of an air layer is quite normal and rarely any need to worry.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Yes it's algae. No it isn't any big deal. Remember that the moss is there only to provide moisture so the new air-layer roots don't dry out. It serves no other purpose.
And make sure when you separate the air-layer that you SEAL the bottom of the air-layer. With Japanese maples in particular this is very important. I just had an arakawa JM air-layer that I received last year crash due to pseudomonas. When I removed it from the soil, the bottom of the air-layer had never been sealed, and the bottom of the trunk was rotted.
