air layering question

i'm thinking of using wet paper towels? this is one of eric's from last year. got a rooted cutting from robin in july. the flower recurved beautifully in the summer, no bloom has since it started blooming for me.

I'd bet there are a lot of mediums that would work if the roots can get through the material. I'd thought about crushing up some oasis and using it. Retaining moisture shouldn't be a problem with it, but since I haven't tried it, I won't recommend it. I don't know why paper toweling wouldn't work as long as the roots can wind their way around through it. Guess we have to try these things to know what will happen. Good luck Arlene.

air layering using:

1. Sphagnum moss... http://www.mosserlee.com/howto/airlayer.html
2. Sphagnum moss (not peat moss) or heavy duty aluminum foil ... http://garden-gate.prairienet.org/airlayer.htm
3. what is airlayering... http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/airlayer.htm

Arlene, I went out into the edge of the yard/woods and pulled up big sheets of moss. I wrapped it around the trunks of the brugs I wanted to layer. The moss was soggy wet as it was raining. I wrapped packing tape around it(it's all I had, no NOT the free tape from the PO)and they are rooted!! big white roots.

Thats how I did it too...moss from the woods.......

I wonder if perlite would work...tooo messy ,huh?

wishing wishing I'd done this.

Tiggums, you still can. You would at least have a head start on the rooting.

Dee had me use spanish moss, i guess i didn't get it tight enough around the stalk? 3 weeks and barely any mubs started. maybe the packing tape would help keep it next to the stalk? is that my problem? CC, you have spanish moss?
i'm hesitant also about digging up, since i could have nematodes everywhere, just less in some places.

susie, is there a reason you didn't use the free tape?? (just curious)

Yes, it's not legal to use it for that purpose. It would be my luck someone would come to see my brugs, there would be all that Priority tape and they would be a Postal Inspector!!! Seriously, I didn't feel right using it, so bought the cheap tape from Kmart, the kind that comes on little red plastic roller thingie.

I thought that might be the reason:) thanks!

Cala, do you think i didn't have the moss packed close enough to the stalk and did you use spanish moss?

Arlene,I don't have anymore spanish moss....

I love that stuff......

CC, was just wondering if it grew up there? a few years ago there were migrant spanish moss pickers around, can't remember what they said they got for it, but there will never be a shortage of it here.

i'm thinking of air layering different places on the same stalk too, no problem right? boy am i running late!

Arlene, the material you use has to be close to the stalk and then needs something to hold it as well as to help keep the moisture in. I just taped the plastic bag around it at the top and the bottom and it worked well. Helps if you have someone to help hold while you tape though. Wish I had Spanish Moss here. I love it and the way it looks. Would also like to have mistletoe, even tho I'm told it kills out trees.

Arlene, I agree with Brugie, I think it needs to be close around the trunk and also stay damp. We have mistletoe in the trees around here. Sometimes there is lots on one tree.

thanks. Dee helped me with the first one and even though the moisture has stayed in i guess it wasn't close enough to the stalk. (exuse the whiiiiiine)........No, poor poor me, nobody who lives in my house has time for anyone but their own little ole selves and whatever they think is important at the minute. even help with the heavy stuff is like extracting wisdom teeth.....(thanks for listening to the whine).....
we tied the top and bottoms on with vine twine, i'll get the tape out and become a contortionist.....
we have lots of mistletoe here too. and i love the resurrection ferns.
i guess nobody liked my brug!

No,it doesent grow around here.When I was in Georgia I stole some that was in a swamp....but i sent it back to georgia when I sent tig some cuttings...LOL

Arlene, we saw your brug but got absorbed in helping you air layer. It's a nice one, which one is it???

it's one of eric's from last year, robin ended up with it and i got a cutting from her in june. it's the one she wanted to name sunset, don't know that it has a name.

Arlene, Susie is right. I got involved talking about how I did the air layering and just didn't mention that your brug is a pretty one. You don't have any that are ugly that I've ever seen. Hope you have good luck with the air layering.

Arlene, That's a very pretty Brug. I like the color of it.
I have airlayered a few of my big plants Eric's way without cutting into the trunk.Used ProMix which is mostly sphagnum moss. It's been cool in the GH and I don't see any roots yet showing in the plastic bag.Did them about a month ago and I think I should be seeing roots by now. Hope it took as they really need to be cut down to size.

Terry, my Rosamond rooted quickly, but I had a yellow and a peach that took much longer. The peach probably took six weeks or more. I used the stringy sphagnum. Will start earlier next year if I do any. I also think cuttings take longer to root now than they did in September. I'm sure the cold has something to do with it. Bet you will get roots before long.

Shirley,
One of my sisters has two giant Live Oaks in her front yard and they are full of Spanish Moss....I think it's a beautiful site.... she says it just messy. Different strokes for different folks. LOL

A few years ago I had a girl from that other site send me a BIG box of it,I draped it all over the place...then the birds stole it!

Anybody got any they just can't stand looking at anymore?

Trade or postage

See what you guys do to me...

I was fine till the subject came up.....

CC, i will gather you some moss......lol.... a rolling stone gathers no moss, will see what i can do....

Arlene, I use green moss. First I wet the branch where I want the root. Then I slather a rooting hormone paste there on my hard to root brugs like my sangs. Then I put a handful of wet green moss around the stem and wrap silver foil around it and crunch it at the top and bottom. Supposedly the silver foil absorbs the heat available and gets it to root faster. I like it because I need no help doing it and the foil is easy to scrunch tight and scrunch closed.

I just love your brug.........is this the one you are trying to airlayer? What is that pink bush on the side?

SO Cala, are you making your masked potatoes for Halloween today? YUM

Kell, what is green moss????

Arlene, the green moss that grows on the shady side of your house, where grass won't grow. It also grows in the edge of our woods, where the soil stays damp. I can send some back with Dee this weekend if you don't have any. I saw a big patch while walking Wally in the woods.

I just went out to look at the bag Arlene. It just says Green Moss. It is what I use for my wire hanging baskets and my wire big wire planters to line it and I put plants right thru it! HD sells it in a bag but you can buy it cheaper at nurseries in a small bale.

here is my silver foil airlayering.

thank you ladies!!!! kell that looks pretty much like the spanish moss that grows in our trees. i have new batteries, i will try to delight you with pics later on!!
Cala, we don't have much of that around here, probably because of the droughts that seemed to have been going on for years and years. i'm sure though that spanish stuff will do good wrapped tighter, and thanks kell, i think i'll use the foil, seems would be easier than tape.
Cala, i really wanted to come, but i have still been exhausted and behind on my typing, nothing new, and have not done my winter prep at all! only started one air layer with Dee a few weeks ago.
did get put on thyroid meds yesterday, and i feel kind of relieved, and like i will see a light at the end of the tunnel sometime.

Ms kell, this is the same brug in the summer. it is a great bloomer and fragrant.
http://davesgarden.com/fp.php?pid=33902

Green moss is different Arlene. We can buy Spanish Moss here also but it is used more for a decorative touch to plant baskets by putting it around the rim. If it holds moisture well I do not know why it woud not work. Just take a big enogh handful it cover completely totally around your stem. GOOD LUCK!!

And I bet you will feel much better now. lots more energy. I need some thyroid also!!

Arlene, I was so hoping you would get to come. Hope to get to see you this Feb at the Florida swap(we are having it again aren't we?) Hope the meds help, it might take a while to get regulated, so it's probably good that you don't travel for a little bit.I'd hate to have to rush you to the hospital!! I'll tell Dee she has to share with you :)

thanks kell and cala. i'm hoping! sick and tired of being sick and tired.
cala, we call that deer moss! someone suggested that dee organize the spring trade, and CC wants it during nascar which is sometime end of february when they start. ms frannie said she would like to come to it also, wouldn't that be great!
kell, i'm not sure if i'll have room! or should i say, i'm not sure i'll have the resources!

Kell, if not mistaken what u got there is commercially called Sphagnum moss - the same stuff i use to line wire hanging basket. it retains moisture very well too. i normally buy them from nurseries. i do not know if HD or Walmart carries them, i've not seen them around here. Armstrong do carry them.

Spanish moss info ... http://www.co.beaufort.sc.us/bftlib/spanish.htm , http://www.save-on-crafts.com/moss.html

Sphagnum moss info ... http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/articles/misc/sphagnum.html , http://www.moutere.com/sphagnum

I do not think they are the same Ma Vie. I also buy spagnum moss and it is not the same as green moss. This is exactly what I buy!!! And it works great! HD sells it in bags, nurseries here sell it by the small bale.
http://www.hiawathacorp.com/Moss.htm



This message was edited Thursday, Oct 31st 1:55 PM

I am in the process of air layering a few too - I am just hoping the baby pods I have started survive the cutting off process. I used spagnum moss, Saran wrap and masking tape, I think a twist tie would work just as well. Kell, have you used foil before?? I thought it might need a little light to form the roots, maybe not. If not, then that sure seems easier to handle than Saran.

I have never done this until last week....see what y'all have me doing now. I think I'm going to have to find another place to hang out at. LOL