How can I avoid killing my first airlayer?

[#655321]

Hello all

I'm completely new to bonsai. I did own a mallsai ficus for several years but I killed in June by trying to grow aerial roots. About the same time I decided to airlayer an annoying beech branch above the patio in my backyard. From what I read on the web, I understood that the general process to follow is that I had to remove bark and cambium for something like 2 times the branch diameter, add root hormone powder, wrap in sphagnum moss, keep wet and wait .

Since the part of the branch that looked interesting to me was at the base, I removed the bark for way less than 2 times the diameter: I removed maybe a quarter inch. I thought that I could simulate a bigger wound by reopening regularly, which I did, more or less. By the way when I rewrapped the moss after the pictures, I put it closer to the trunk...

Mostly it worked; I see that many roots are budding. But I expected that they would become longer than this. As you see on the pictures, it looks more lie a solid mass with no real length. I'm afraid I painted myself in a corner by waiting too long for the roots to grow. While we had a great summer here in Montreal, it's getting close to ending and I'm afraid the roots won't grow longer than this in my setup

So, does anybody have advice? Should I cut the branch and put it in the ground now and hope that they will have enough time to establish a bit before the season ends? Or should I keep my setup as it is, maybe wrap a towel to insulate from the worst colds, and hope that they will still be alive in spring? The branch itself is currently a few yards long. I planned to prune before putting it in the ground

Thanks!

 

[Dav4]

I don't see any roots, just callus tissue. Not to rain on your parade, but this layering attempt is over for the year as you don't have long enough of a growing season remaining to grow any meaningful amount of roots. Next year, I would suggest starting as early your growing season allows, use rooting hormone, and you will need to probably remove a much wider band of bark through the cambium and into the wood for this to have any chance of success.

 

[edprocoat]

Yup Dav4 thats the truth!

ed

 

[stacy allen muse]

???????????????

 

[#655321]

I see... thank you everybody for the advice. I hope it will work better next year. Would it make sense to put a tight wire around the branch instead of removing the bark? I read somewhere that it works on beech (I read that after I tried what you see above).

 

[Dav4]

I see... thank you everybody for the advice. I hope it will work better next year. Would it make sense to put a tight wire around the branch instead of removing the bark? I read somewhere that it works on beech (I read that after I tried what you see above).

I'd do the wire, placed in a groove carved into the wood, AND I'd remove a larger band of bark.

 

[#655321]

Perfect, I'm going to try that next spring. Thank you Dav4!

 

[Kevster]

You can probably wrap the wire around the branch now. Since it is the end of your growing season the branch won't be growing much if at all but it might grow just enough to be snug.
Then it will at least be on there for the very beginning of next years growing season in case you miss the start of growth.

It will put you a little ahead of the game.

Just my opinion...
Good luck,
Kevin