New air layer(elm) UPDATE

Went out to find a hornbeam that I could air layer and found this beautiful tree in the woods. It is a winged elm and the bark looks amazingly old for the tree being so small. Naturally I had to start an air layer on it.  It's perfect for a nice shohin I hope. (Update starts below first pic)



The air layer worked, got it potted up in some good soil. Now its time to just let it grow. I know that I cant even think about styling now but I plan on making it a small informal broom.






General direction if it works out. (walter pall's tree i believe)

The aluminium paper is not good, a black plastic bag have been preferable, more discreet and because heat is good for roots developpement .

abcd wrote:The aluminium paper is not good, a black plastic bag have been preferable, more discreet and because heat is good for roots developpement .

So is darkness . . . and he will get all the heat he can stand in Virginia in a week or two. That's pretty standard procedure in my experience.

I thought that I'd read some where that roots grow best around 72 degrees F. So the aluminum foil is to make sure it doesn't get to hot. So is that ok or should I switch?

Jake16 wrote:I thought that I'd read some where that roots grow best around 72 degrees F. So the aluminum foil is to make sure it doesn't get to hot. So is that ok or should I switch?

Well, the mid-70s anyway (72F is standard 'room temperature'). This info comes from growers using bottom heat to root cuttings, btw. So, you've done it right, especially if the sun can shine directly on the layer.

I suggest that you stick a meat thermometer probe inside to see what the temperature actually is in the wad of sphagnum. It is such a simple thing to do and with the data you will know. Just borrow the one from your kitchen and sterilize it with an alcohol wipe down afterward. On the other hand, you might want to buy another one if you want to measure soil temperatures on all your trees from time to time too. Roots don't grow at temperatures above 95F.

Ill do that. Thank you.

I use Foil all the time on mine

Ken

So is that ok or should I switch?

You're OK. Ma Nature isn't that specific about these kinds of things. Here in the SE USA, it easily gets warm enough this time of year (usually, at least) and anywhere from upper 60s through the low 80s is probably fine.

Yeah Jake don't sweat it.

Airlayering is not rocket science, esp. with an elm...It's either going to issue roots or not. I've used clear plastic a hundred times at least- it's dark under all that moss....

Now if you were trying something notoriously difficult to air layer like a black pine you'd have to be a litttle more particular.

Just keep an eye on it for drying out, especially as things heat up.

UPDATE