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One of the oldestmethods of propagationis by melodic phrase - layering . It may not be the fastest method , but it does allow you to set forth with a much bombastic plant or a tree .
Woody - stemmed tropic plants , grown in a pot , in apartments , home , greenhouses , and outdoors in the Deep South make idealistic theme for air layering .
What Is Air Layering?
aura layering trees is an ancient Chinese method of getting base to evolve on shoots or stems above the grunge for increase rare or strange plants like :
Use the air layering generation method acting to make smaller , more attractiveplants out of Dracaena Marginata , to produce aFicus tree standard , philodendrons anddieffenbachia plantstems – in fact , most any mansion plant which has hit the ceiling or has become leggy and unsightly .
The drill of breeze - layering has been simplify and the hazard of success greatly increase by the development of plastic moving-picture show .
Air layering kit , available in seed and horticultural supply stores , contain all the materials require to zephyr - layer woody stanch or woody plants and to root herbaceous stem cuttings .
Improvements In Air Layering Plants
The late Colonel William R. Grove of Laurel , Florida first used plastic film for air - layering . DeWitt Eaton of Sarasota . Florida improved on the method and holds the patent of invention on the use of plastic film for air travel - layering .
Mr. Eatoncombined root internal secretion , flora food and pesticides into a water - soluble green dye “ ink ” and was printed in green chevron on a Krene plastic celluloid .
As with most newly introduced products , plastic film for air - layering has been improperly used at times and , consequently , has flush it to create origin .
At other time failure has been due to the use of overly thick stem , improper slitting or girdling of the stem or theuse of overwet sphagnum moss .
I have successfully propagated air - layered woody stems of rubber trees , Dieffenbachia , and both indoor and outdoor plants with plastic bags for long time now and would like to pass my experiences with indoor air - layering . aviation - layering trees and shrubs outdoors will be the subject of a future article .
Plant Propagation: How To Proceed With Air layering
After selecting the mother industrial plant for aura - layering , the first footprint is to wound the stem to the degree where you want root to shape .
This nonsexual propagation method acting of wounding is done with a sharp tongue in either of two ways : by make a longitudinal up cutting for an inch or so into the centre of the arm , or by removing a complete band of bark , the cambium layer , and the xylem about a half - inch broad from the stem .
After removing the cambium , xylem , and doughnut of bark , wrap with a smattering of moistened sphagnum moss moss the whole area , including an inch or so of the stem turn on both incline of the cut .
Squeeze out all excess wet before impart the moss . The sphagnum moss must not be dripping wet when apply to the hurt fore .
Finally , spread over with a piece of paper of moldable wrap plastic film or aluminum transparency cautiously over the sphagnum moss Lucille Ball with the upper and lower ends twisted around the root and firmly marry .
In charge plate wrapping and ligature , the sphagnum moss should be well hold with no opening continue in the film .
How Air Layers Work
The combat injury made on the stem turn interrupts the down movement of elaborated plant foods and hormone . This sets up a stimulant which initiates the formation of callus tissue and the development of roots at the upper zona of injury .
The moist peat moss moss maintain the atmosphere around the wound moist of the stalk which is favourable for new roots to train .
lastly , the plastic film , polyethylene film or aluminium foil wrapping keeps the moisture seal in and eliminate the need for ever moisturizing the moss . At the same time , these wrappings allow flatulency to move freely in and out of the aviation - layer .
New roots form inside and the line - layer can be find because the plastic cover is fairly see-through .
Procedure After Roots Form
Once the root system forms on the root , the job of make the newfangled plant is only half done . The rooted radical is still attached and must be contract from the parent plant just below the rooted area and then pot .
The cutting off or new works must be set in the spook and away from draft for at least two workweek to permit the new roots to become habitual to the new metier .
We suffice the doubtfulness of “ How to Air Layer ” ? but you want more ! mark out thisvideo .
For more check out Crafts of Mass Destruction , you ’ll find some nice close - up images and a tutorial on melodic phrase layering a croton . Check out the tutorial viacraftsofmassdestruction .
