Hi all, i'm new in this forum but a lurker from time ago. I want to share with you this achievement.
In nov2021, 3 years ago, I bought an Ikea christmas tree for 10€, and happened to be Alberta's spruce (picea glauca "conica").
It had 2 very low side branches, and after searching i found in this forum that Mr. Walter Pall said spruces could be layered (https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/air-layering-spruce-anyone-done-it.2584/).
So i had to try it. First i just tied down those branches and put some more soil over them, just to save time while they got etiolated.
After repotting to a bigger and better place i peeled the clasical ring in the branches, and buried them again.
But there was a problem, the soil was washed away easily after rain and watering, and constant humidity was lost every now and then. I had to replenish every pot frequently. Not a very good way to get roots.
So i modified the estructure with more side pots to retain the soil, and some little rocks to hold moisture. Before you ask, the soil is compost with cheap expanded clay for masonry, 70-30% more or less.
Also i had to fill the pot with more soil
After 2 years, this september, i checked there were some roots, and separated the trees.
It was difficult to divide the main roots from the roots of the branches without breaking them. There was a mesh in there.
The roots didn't grow where the ring and callus were, but they grew. Not a good nebari at all, in any case.
After some green pruning this are the temporary results. I hope they root after the brake up from the main tree.
The main tree now. I'll start to style it this next year.
Thanks for reading.
In nov2021, 3 years ago, I bought an Ikea christmas tree for 10€, and happened to be Alberta's spruce (picea glauca "conica").
It had 2 very low side branches, and after searching i found in this forum that Mr. Walter Pall said spruces could be layered (https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/air-layering-spruce-anyone-done-it.2584/).
So i had to try it. First i just tied down those branches and put some more soil over them, just to save time while they got etiolated.
After repotting to a bigger and better place i peeled the clasical ring in the branches, and buried them again.
But there was a problem, the soil was washed away easily after rain and watering, and constant humidity was lost every now and then. I had to replenish every pot frequently. Not a very good way to get roots.
So i modified the estructure with more side pots to retain the soil, and some little rocks to hold moisture. Before you ask, the soil is compost with cheap expanded clay for masonry, 70-30% more or less.
Also i had to fill the pot with more soil
After 2 years, this september, i checked there were some roots, and separated the trees.
It was difficult to divide the main roots from the roots of the branches without breaking them. There was a mesh in there.
The roots didn't grow where the ring and callus were, but they grew. Not a good nebari at all, in any case.
After some green pruning this are the temporary results. I hope they root after the brake up from the main tree.
The main tree now. I'll start to style it this next year.
Thanks for reading.
