Air-layer roots

After re-thinking my air-layering plans I decided to remove the moss from a few of the plants that I think would be better off dug up. I want them to go dormant and not have to keep them growing. This is a photo of the roots that have begun to grow under the moss. The plant is Sunray and I put the moss on him about three weeks ago. You can see the square wound I made with a knife. I broke the roots off and left it uncovered to dry them out. There's a few plants that have bigger roots that I can see growing through the plastic covering. I decided to leave those ones alone - but I'll still dig up the whole plants.

Why did you broke off the new roots? You would had a smaller plant with many blooms the next year.

Monika - Frost is very close here. I decided it would be better off to dig the whole plant up instead of cut the tops off. I'm afraid I won't have enough root growth to go dormant. I don't have the space to keep them growing while they all make roots.

Thank you for posting, this is a real good pic of what it will look like, only 3 weeks, not too long to wait!

Is this your first ever?

Yes - this was my first time to air layer. It's easy enough to do. Next year I'll do it earlier!

Great picture Poppy.

Thanks Poppy, I need to check on mine.

When I did mine, I didn't cut the wood. Just wrapped it and they rooted in no time. By doing this, I'll be able to finish out some seed pods that started Aug 6. I don't think I could have dug up that one I've been calling Pink Beauty.

I was just going to ask if you need to wound the plant,seems like it would root with out the wound

I did as Brugie did and just wrapped the trunk. The whole plants are in the GH and have seed pods. After the pods mature I'll cut it down to size. Just did it 1 1/2 weeks ago so the roots haven't grown yet.Great picture Poppysue.

Wow, that got my attention, poppysue! Just yesterday I set up an air-laying on a Frosty Pink (in the greenhouse). I cut a round of bark off but didn't cut a square in the stem like it looks like you did...is that for a special reason?

While doing all this I kept wondering how much it matters if the branch that is being air-layerer should be a "single" branch or can it have several branches (limbs) coming off it (further up top). Any ideas?

poppysue, this roots would have kept the top alive. All you needed to do is to remove all large leaves. You would have had a nice root ball until next spring.

Aha! Thankyou Monika for letting me know. I only took the moss off of a couple them. I want to have nice straight trunks on the big plants next year.

poppysue, do I understand this correct?? can you cut this off below where we see the new roots, and plant it and have a blooming plant next year?

Yes Liz - that's the idea :) Choose a straight stem that has a Y already. I have some plants that are shaped a little funny!

Ahhhh....there's the answer I was looking for! So it's best for the stem to have a Y at its top. I better get busy!

Shoe, It has to have a Y to flower. That is the generative zone where your buds will start forming.

Okay snow, thanks. Sounds like it flowers from what we tomato growers would call a sucker then, eh? I just didn't know how many Y's it could have to properly root. For example, can the main rooting stem have 4 or 5 branches coming off of it and still root? Or would that be too stressful for the process?
(Dagnabbit, why'd ya'll get me into this new field of wonder!?) (Brughead? Like I really need another description!) :>)

oh darn, is it too late to start it now?

I'm gonna do some of mine that are in pots Lizh. And will keep them in the GHouse. You may get a cold snap in your area soon that would zap your outdoor plants. Maybe you could bring some inside and do it?

You can take little 4-6 inch pieces from below the first Y and those will make fairly tall plants next year. If you want them to be more bushy, take the same size cuttings from above the first Y. They will all root fairly easily. I always take cuttings so I don't have to save my big plants. I just don't have the room or a working wintertime greenhouse. I always have great bloom the next summer. Usually 2-3 flushes of bloom. The biggest problem with taking a cutting with a lot of stems coming off of it is that you will have a brug blooming with blooms hanging on the ground. JMHO

Shirley

here's a url that give instruction and show pix on air layering ... http://www.mosserlee.com/howto/airlayer.html

I went to the trouble of cutting the bark off all around the stem but from this picture I sure did not need to. I am doing this to my sangs and vulcanicolas because they are hard to root. The knobbies sure are coming out here!

Monika, look what you have started!! Next summer there will be so many allay gardens here!

Kell, i have to find the above url to be able to learn how air layering works. it is the simplest method, the others were wee bit complicated for me to follow.

Thanks to all of you. I'm going to give it a try.