What is Air Layering?
Air layering is a plant propagation technique which involves wounding a branch and stimulating it to produce roots, and then cutting off the branch and planting it. While this process may sound slightly strange, it has been practiced for centuries, and in its native China, air layering is a widely used method of propagation. This technique can be used for woody ornamentals, some trees, and many houseplants, and it is relatively easy to do, even for novice gardeners. Gardeners usually decide to air layer a plant when they plan to trim away a branch or piece of growth anyway. The logic is that the healthy branch may as well be turned into a new plant and removed, rather than being trimmed and thrown away altogether. People may also utilize air layers to make clones of favorite plants and cultivars. People who work with bonsai are especially fond of this propagation technique, since the cultivation of bonsai is already heavily controlled. People can air layer in the spring after the plant
Air layering is the process of removing a large branch or section of the trunk of a tree to create another tree. Before the branch is removed it is girdled, protected with peat moss or other media and the girdled section is allowed to root. After rooting the branch is removed from the tree. This is a very common practice in bonsai to obtain another tree from an unwanted branch or to save a thick trunk section that was going to be removed anyway. Andy Walsh posted a short but very informative article on the physiology of this process on the Internet Bonsai Club mail list. Knowing how a tree forms roots at an air layer site provides powerful information for not only understanding the process, but also a vehicle for answering your own questions and solving your own problems in air layering.
“air layering” is almost the same as rooting cuttings. The difference is that you keep the cutting connected to the plant. You cut usually less than half way across the stem depending on the plant. Plants that usually rot when cut because of lack of nutrients can be rooted this was as the parent plant will keep feeding the new plant until it has enough roots to support itself. After you have made the cut, you wrap damp sphagnum moss around the cut area and put plastic wrap around it to hold it on. Once you can see plenty of roots, you can cut the stem off below the development of the roots. Some plants do not have to be cut to start to develop roots, just the damp sphagnum will do. You can also use other things other than sphagnum, like wet paper shreds. Sometimes rooting hormone will help. It all depends on the type of plant as to what will work and how to do it. I am currently doing this with a tropical passion flower.
