Air Layering Thinner Branches

[Neurox]

I've got a dwarf Japanese maple with a horrible grafting scar. I would air layer it above the graft, but there are so many branches that it would be very difficult to do. Instead, I was thinking of just taking an air layer of one of the branches. I'm not sure how viable this would be though, seeing as though the branches are only about 7mm in diameter. Is this even possible to do with good success, or should I just wait for the branches to thicken up and do it then?

 

[parhamr]

Hold on to your butts: https://bonsaitonight.com/2009/07/29/ebihara-technique/

 

[justBonsai]

Hold on to your butts: https://bonsaitonight.com/2009/07/29/ebihara-technique/

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I've seen this before but what I didn't get is how they approach graft the transplanted branch to a new location. I'd think this be pretty cool to test out on other deciduous trees.

 

[just.wing.it]

That's just weird and crazy man.

 

[JoeR]

Hold on to your butts: https://bonsaitonight.com/2009/07/29/ebihara-technique/

View attachment 133437

I still cannot tell, does he graft the seedling THROUGH the branch or is it an approach graft?

 

[justBonsai]

I still cannot tell, does he graft the seedling THROUGH the branch or is it an approach graft?

It looks like a thread graft. After the graft has taken the branch is slowly weened off the parent tree until separation. I just didn't get how he grafted that transplanted branch onto a new tree.

 

[bonsaidave]

branches are only about 7mm in diameter.

I air layered the top off a small japanese maple I have. It was about 7mm maybe slightly larger. 2 issues I had were.
1. It was very thin once the bark was off and I had to tie it to a stake because it wobbled so much in wind.
2. It healed over the ringed area twice. I only took about an inch length of bark off so I guess more is warranted.

I did get a couple roots probably not enough. but here I am a year later, I just chopped it off and stuck it in a pot. If it lives great. Either way many lessons have been learned.

Final thoughts. Too much work for little gain in my case. If the graft on yours is low enough you could try to ground layer it. Might have better luck.

 

[MACH5]

I still cannot tell, does he graft the seedling THROUGH the branch or is it an approach graft?

Approach graft.

 

[M. Frary]

That's just weird and crazy man.

But pretty cool too.

 

[MACH5]

An ingenious technique to make use of developed branches.

 

[pweifan]

Approach graft.

Sergio, do you think this could work on a Korean Hornbeam? A club member had a great HB at the meeting today. It only had one troubling spot and I kept trying to solve the crossing branch problem in my head. Ebihara's grafting technique would do it, I think.

 

[M. Frary]

Sergio, do you think this could work on a Korean Hornbeam

I imagine this technique could work for just about any tree.

 

[MACH5]

Sergio, do you think this could work on a Korean Hornbeam? A club member had a great HB at the meeting today. It only had one troubling spot and I kept trying to solve the crossing branch problem in my head. Ebihara's grafting technique would do it, I think.

I assume you're referring to Ebihara's technique shown in the above pic? If so, yes like Mike Frary said, I would work on just about any deciduous species.


In reference to the OP, I have had less success air layering very, very thin branches or twigs. I would wait until those branches are thicker.

 

[M. Frary]

Isn't Ebihara also the guy that will take a large branch off using a cut halfway through the branch,let it heal then cut it off of the rest of the way so the wound heals faster?

Ebihara's technique

 

[MACH5]

Isn't Ebihara also the guy that will take a large branch off using a cut halfway through the branch,let it heal then cut it off of the rest of the way so the wound heals faster?

Yes

 

[M. Frary]

Yes

I knew I saw that somewhere.
I'm amazed I remembered the name though.
Thanks Sergio!

 

[pweifan]

I assume you're referring to Ebihara's technique shown in the above pic? If so, yes like Mike Frary said, I would work on just about any deciduous species.

Thanks Sergio! That's the kind of thing I hope to be able to pull off someday.