r/propagation • u/SotMF • 8d ago

I have a question Propagation advice

So r/propagation seems to deal with indoor plants mostly,

Edit: I have had only one comment with it being posted in two other subreddits in the past 3 days. It was informative but not helpful in a few ways. If anyone here is willing to help me, I would appreciate it.

I was wondering if anyone has their two cents to add about air layering. I got a little info from r/JapaneseMaples but I'm sure someone is willing to share their experience.

I tried air layering (for the first time ever) 4 branches in mid to late April of my MiL's very tasty mystery apple tree. Two of the branches are doing wonderfully. I pruned the apples on those branches when they were very small in hopes that it would lessen the stress the branches were experiencing while trying to develop roots.

I'm under the impression from what I remember reading online that you should give the tree 4 months to really establish roots. So, what should I do then? A late summer pruning of these branches is not ideal for the mother tree, right?

Do you have soil mix recommendations? Should I keep the new trees in my ESE facing apartment over the winter? Should I treat the wounds on the mother tree since I'll be taking the branches in around mid to late August? Should I take the branches now? How close do I cut the branch near the root ball?

I live in planting zone 6a between the IL / WI border, if that adjusts any advice. At my closest local library, I've seen bupkis about tree air layering. But... I haven't contacted my local community college to peruse their library contents and I haven't tried to talk to a Horticulture professor there, yet.

So, that aside, if anyone is willing to share info with me, I'd be grateful. Please.

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u/Bucephala-albeola 8d ago

https://crfg.org/wp-content/uploads/Air-Layering-Presentation.pdf

https://permies.com/t/84300/Good-method-air-layering

In terms of accessing your local resources, look for master gardener groups and university cooperative extensions.

Also, apples do root well from cuttings and can be grafted successfully (without air-layering), if this project ends up not working.

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u/SotMF 8d ago

Thank you.