posted 7 years ago
hau Joylynn, unfortunately I can not see the original youtube because of them being blocked on my computer (work comp.).
What I can do is give you a step by step of the method of air layering that has never failed me.
Items needed:
1 piece of visquene plastic (white or clear, not black) cut this 8 inches top to bottom and 3 feet long. (I like 4 to 6 mil thickness)
2 pieces of cotton or other type of string, I like to make mine about 12 inches long so I know I have long enough pieces.
1 bag of sphagnum moss, soaking in a pail of water.
1 sharp knife or a new bladed razor knife and a small glass of bleach water (1 part bleach to 2 parts water) for sterilizing (not needed if only doing one branch))
1 container of Rooting Hormone Powder (small, soft bristle brush is optional but recommended for applying the powder without any waste)
Method:
1. Select a good branch that would be pruned normally (this saves all the good branches and makes good use of a branch that would need to come off anyway).
2. With a sharp knife or a fresh bladed razor knife make four (4) slits approximately 3 inches long equidistant around the branch (I've tried the ring method and found it only works on easy to root tree varieties).
3. make a second slit parallel to the first set about 1/8th inch away from the first slit and remove the 1/8th inch piece of bark and cambium, leaving the rest of the bark intact.
4. dust the new wounds with a hormone powder any brand will do the job.
5. wet sphagnum moss and wrap around the treated area so it is about 2 inches thick.
6. wrap a piece of visquene plastic twice (2 wraps) around the sphagnum moss and tie the lower end tight to the branch, then tie the upper end a bit looser to the branch (use a bow so you can open this end if you should need to add water).
Watch the plastic to see if you need to add water (the moss should remain very damp (almost dripping water), do not add water if it looks damp inside the plastic wrapping.
When roots can be seen poking through the moss and against the plastic it is time to remove and plant up the new tree.
Cut the branch/new tree below the bottom of the plastic wrapping, and ready the container before you cut the strings and remove the plastic wrapping.
Once everything is ready, remove the plastic and plant the tree with the sphagnum moss still in place, water it and enjoy your new tree while it grows more roots.
In the late fall, the tree should be ready to be planted in the ground, wait till the leaves have dropped and the tree is dormant, then plant like you would any tree from a nursery.
Let me know if you need anything clarified.
Redhawk