Basic Air Layering Tutorial

Here is a bonsai technique I just recently learned. I wanted to share it with others as it seems to be a rather unknown method of propagation. I've never done a tutorial and I'm discovering that the "enter" key is not working right now, but I will press on; "Onward to Moscow!" The first step is to choose a suitable location. You want part of a lower younger branch that is fairly straight and has a number of bud sites. The second step is to soak Spanish moss in a weak solution of honey water then cut shallow circles into the bark marking the top and bottom ends of the section to be air layered. Follow up with a cut along the stem from one circle to the other. Using your fingernails or a dull knife pry the bark away from the tree exposing the smooth white layer. With some plants, this is difficult to do, in cases such as this one should carefully scrape away the bark using a knife of similar tool. Once you have the bark removed, apply a rooting hormone and place a good amount of moist Spanish moss into a sheet of plastic wrap. Using the plastic wrap to secure the moss to the area. Ensure the moss is completely covered and snug against the branch. Secure the whole thing to the tree using duct tape. You can also use trash bags and secure them to the branch before stuffing them with moss. Be sure to use enough moss to allow for healthy roots to grow. The ones in my photos should have been larger. I hope this is useful to someone! Let me know by liking this post please.

Air Layering works on lots of species of plants. And you can also use sphagnum moss. I think your tutorial is worth a like , some rep and a sticky if enough people say the word.

Yes, sphagnum moss was what the individual told me to use. I was worried about fungus growing inside the moss, so I added some Root Tone too the water. I have no idea if there was any benefit to that, but it contains fungicides. The guy also mentioned that sphagnum moss also fights fungus growth. I guess this can be an experiment. Thank you for the comments.

Bump... Bump... Bumpadelphia!

I wanted to update everyone on the results of my air layering attempts. I should mention there are several other air layering tutorials on RIU that did not come up when I used the RIU search.

Anyway, here are some photos and final instructions.



Carefully remove the tape and plastic wrap to check root growth. The roots on this clone are orangish, so perhaps that means I let it sit too long before checking.
After removing the plastic wrap and tape, use pruning shears to clip to clone off of the tree. Plant the clone in some healthy soil and water it in well. Place in filtered sunlight for a few days until the plant becomes established.

so is this another way of cloning a tree or hardwood? i asked about cloning a japenise maple and was told air layering pots??? witch would be easier or safer way to clone this expensive tree?

I don't know about air layering pots.

If you have success with cuttings, I'd say that is a good choice, but to me... air layering just feels like it has a better chance and less risk. With air layering, the worst that can happen is you have an ugly piece of a branch. The branch should never die because it remains connected to the tree until roots have developed.
One of my horticulturist friends has cloned a Japanese Maple several times, so it is possible.

How big IS your tree? What has you worried? Are you worried that the tree will die in the process or something?

well its not the size of the tree its the age. so i want to get a cutting from a friends very rare,old and expensive j.maple. he is going to sell it to anhiser bush/bush gardens for $45,000.00 and i want to get a cutting from it before it goes. i would like to have a very rare and expensive tree too.lol.. just want the easiest way to do it with out hurting the tree.

NietzscheKeen said:

I don't know about air layering pots.

If you have success with cuttings, I'd say that is a good choice, but to me... air layering just feels like it has a better chance and less risk. With air layering, the worst that can happen is you have an ugly piece of a branch. The branch should never die because it remains connected to the tree until roots have developed.
One of my horticulturist friends has cloned a Japanese Maple several times, so it is possible.

How big IS your tree? What has you worried? Are you worried that the tree will die in the process or something?

Click to expand...

That's the tree? It's pretty. I think you will have good luck with air layering. You can do it on a smaller under branch so that it won't be noticed. It will take a couple of weeks to get good roots. And the worst thing that could happen is you get a scratched place on the branch.