Pinecrest Gardens Blog: Air Layering: A Technique For Your Garden Toolkit

Pinecrest FL

21 April, 2022

6:18 PM

Description

Press release from Pinecrest Gardens Blog: April 21, 2022 Have you noticed the trees wrapped with pieces of aluminum foil throughout the garden? Nope, these aren't leftovers for eating. We've been working on Air-Layering! It's a great thing for gardeners to have in their tool kit, and today i'll explain why we do it, how we do it and some tips for attempting it on your own. If you're already a gardener wanting to expand your skillset, air layering may be something you'd like to try in the near future, or at the very least learn a bit more about. In short, air layering is a form of plant propagation. It's way to make new plants from a mother plant with very little materials. Who doesn't love free plants?! The spring in south Florida is a great time to practice air layering, because many of our plants are experiencing active growth spurts. New growth can be capitalized on by setting up some air layering, which will force the plant to put some of that extra growing season energy into making roots. In nature, air layering occurs when a low or fallen branch makes contact with soil. Perhaps you've seen a tree or plant with low laying branches who have laid down into the soil and rooted. That's how air layering works! This happens commonly in south Florida after a weather event. Here's how it works: In its simplest form, you can practice air layering by gently 'damaging' a branch by scraping off the bark, and applying a sort of band aid to it. Beneath the band-aid, the plant will heal, and in that process it will create new roots at the site of damage. Materials: Step 1: Assembly all your tools together, and assess the branch you'd like to cut. Step 1: Assembly all your tools together, and assess the branch you'd like to cut. The branch you choose should be healthy, with leaves void of pests, damage or blemishes. I recommend choosing a branch that is medium age- not very old growth, but not delicate new growth either. Step 2: Make a small cut or scrape into the stem of the plant. Step 2: Make a small cut or scrape into the stem of the plant. To properly do this step, first sterilize your knife by exposing it to a small flame. Proceed to make a cut in the branch, not too deep. The cut is only to expose the flesh of the branch, so you are only removing the top layer or so of bark. If you cut too deeply into the branch, and it can't support itself with breaking, it's best to just prune that area off and start again elsewhere. Ideally, you will be just be removing the bark to expose the flesh of the branch. Step 3: Apply rooting hormone if you have on hand. Step 3: Apply rooting hormone if you have on hand. Rooting hormone is used to accelerate the production of roots. Using a sterilized brush, apply rooting hormone to the exposed flesh fo the branch. This step is not necessary, if you don't have any on hand, but it can improve the outcome for air layering. If you are not using rooting hormone, skip this step. Step 4: Apply the Moss Step 4: Apply the Moss Now we will bandage up our plant! Dampen the moss before applying by giving it a good soak. Squeeze out extra water, to the texture of a moist sponge. You will want the moss to be wet, but not dripping. Take a handful of moss and wrap it around the newly cut branch. This 'bandage' will act as a perfect environment for the plant to produce roots. Step 5: Apply wrap to protect the area Step 5: Apply wrap to protect the area Wrap your plastic wrap or tin foil around the moss securing it at each end. Tie off with string if necessary to ensure the moss stays damp. Step 6: Check in on your plant Step 6: Check in on your plant Depending on your climate, you will likely need to add water to the moss every week or so. The idea is to keep the moss from drying out. Now, you'll wait between 60-100 days for roots to develop! Once that occurs, carefully unwrap your branch and prune it just below the root formation. Now it's ready to be planted. Hopefully you can apply these skills in your own garden, and start propagating plants to share with friends and family. Happy Digging! This press release was produced by Pinecrest Gardens Blog. The views expressed here are the author's own.