The Warm Canuck
Chumono
I'm sure it obviously depends on the species but at what diameter does the failure rate go up? I have an American Elm, that's 3-4" in Diameter, I know Elms are an easy species to air layer, should it be fine?
What is too big for an air layer?
- Thread starter The Warm Canuck
- Start date
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Yep, totally dependent on species. I bet your elm will air layer very well.
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
This American elm was around 2.5” at the time it was layered. After 4 months, I decided I had plenty of root to separate. 
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
Most elms put off roots fairly well and quickly. I’m actually attempting to root a 2 inch winged elm log. It was just a bare stick when I started this experiment.
Started feb. 14
Here it is March 19
It is still going strong but so far no roots out of the bottom of the pot yet.
Started feb. 14
Here it is March 19
It is still going strong but so far no roots out of the bottom of the pot yet.
August
Chumono
@19Mateo83 did you start that cutting in a jar of water or were you letting it soak before moving it to some kind of media?
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
I let it soak for a few days in water with a little bit of rooting hormone powder mixed in because why not right? My thinking is with all cuts above the water coated and sealed under a heavy coat of liquid cut paste, the soak would allow it to fully hydrate along with soak the bark of the part I want to root with rooting hormone. This is what was rechopped off of a 17 year old tree I collected. Funny enough, this stick has more budding and growth than the stump it came off of. I’m curious to see if it will root or it will expend all its stored sugars and crash and burn.
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
AJL
Chumono
Interesting experiment but why such a small pot?!
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
The branch I'm layering is probably 8 foot long, should I cut of some of the Apex now, before it buds to make it more manageable, after seperation? Or should I leave it, to give it as much foliage, to promote as many roots as possible?
jerzyjerzy
Mame
Leave as much foliage as possible. Any photosynthesizing green will add energy to creating new roots. You can cut off some branches at a separation time.
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Wow, nice work. What medium did you use and how big was the pot?
It's Kev
Omono
i'd say, a fully grown redwood, or baobab with the circumference of 30 people is too big for air layering
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
American elm in the lilac.
It hasn’t quite been a year since we moved into the new house. But right away, I noticed this elm that had been growing inside and pruned in to the lilac bush. I pondered the idea of digging it out, but since it’s so close to the lilac bush I decided to air layer this spring.
I cant wait to dig up the stump this may.
