0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
One of the more popular myths about air layering is that ‘bridging’ of a girdle is caused by the callus pushing/growing downward from above rejoining with the callus below. If you have ever tried to make an approach graft without first exposing the cambium you would find this idea preposterous (and indeed it is – while the two calluses may be touching, the cambium is not joined). However, I am not trying to substantiate this claim in this post. My aim is only to present a demonstration of the entire cambium, phloem, and bark structure being re-established by the residual cambium (actually xylem initials, if you want to be precise).
I made a girdle about 6 inches long on a half-inch zelkova serrata sapling trunk. I only peeled off the bark and did not scrape the exposed xylem, nor wipe/scrub it with rubbing alcohol. After having removed the ring of bark, I promptly wrapped the girdle in Saran Wrap and set the tree where the girdle would not be exposed to direct sunlight. After a couple of weeks I added a small wad of damp sphagnum under the wrap, but below the girdle, to assure that the tissues stayed moist. I continued checking every now and then and photographing the girdle until the bark was clearly re-established, about 45 days later.
Had I not wrapped the girdle in Saran, all the residual cells would have dessicated and died within a few hours to days. While this is a good way to make an air layer and not have it bridge, I am too impatient and don’t like leaving things half done, so I use scraping and rubbing alcohol to quickly accomplish the same end.
I made a girdle about 6 inches long on a half-inch zelkova serrata sapling trunk. I only peeled off the bark and did not scrape the exposed xylem, nor wipe/scrub it with rubbing alcohol. After having removed the ring of bark, I promptly wrapped the girdle in Saran Wrap and set the tree where the girdle would not be exposed to direct sunlight. After a couple of weeks I added a small wad of damp sphagnum under the wrap, but below the girdle, to assure that the tissues stayed moist. I continued checking every now and then and photographing the girdle until the bark was clearly re-established, about 45 days later.
Had I not wrapped the girdle in Saran, all the residual cells would have dessicated and died within a few hours to days. While this is a good way to make an air layer and not have it bridge, I am too impatient and don’t like leaving things half done, so I use scraping and rubbing alcohol to quickly accomplish the same end.
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