First Roots... Class of 2026

I would like to try air layering
How soon can you air layer after you a pot a fig pop? Does the branch have to be certain diameter? Can it be green or does it have to be lignified?

As soon as the plant has stabilized and growing normally you can air layer. I wouldn't do it right after potting up your pop. Maybe give it a while to spread its roots in the new home. The transplant will cause some shock so no need to add to that.

Branch diameter doesn't really matter but thicker is slower. Green wood is fine but is prone to breaking under the weight of the layer so you might need to support it somehow.
 
As soon as the plant has stabilized and growing normally you can air layer. I wouldn't do it right after potting up your pop. Maybe give it a while to spread its roots in the new home. The transplant will cause some shock so no need to add to that.

Branch diameter doesn't really matter but thicker is slower. Green wood is fine but is prone to breaking under the weight of the layer so you might need to support it somehow.
Thanks for the info, I’m really excited to air layer when the weather gets warmer!
 
Thanks for the info, I’m really excited to air layer when the weather gets warmer!

Perhaps short of digging up a sucker, it really is the safest and most reliable propagation method. Even if roots don't take and the medium dries up... there's no harm done. You can just remove it and try again.
 
The peeling/scraping doesn’t permanently hurt the branch? It heals over if the AL fails?

That's basically it. I do a full girdle. Occasionally it will heal over with no roots. I just move up or down a node and do it again. The tree is just fine.

BTW - And perhaps this is obvious... but don't scrape green wood. It'll be very prone to snapping. I thought I could get away with it a few times way back..... it didn't go well.
 
I would like to try air layering
How soon can you air layer after you a pot a fig pop? Does the branch have to be certain diameter? Can it be green or does it have to be lignified?
Air layer a fig pop? That is a good question. I am not sure I have tried that. It takes a long time for a green young branch to air layer based on my experience.
 
Air layer a fig pop? That is a good question. I am not sure I have tried that. It takes a long time for a green young branch to air layer based on my experience.
I have seen people graft onto fig pops, but I was thinking more after it is up potted and has 2’ growth on it.
 
I would like to try air layering
How soon can you air layer after you a pot a fig pop? Does the branch have to be certain diameter? Can it be green or does it have to be lignified?
Lignified works best. I never tried to air layer green growth because it will probably break off due to the weight of the apparatus.
 
Air layer a fig pop? That is a good question. I am not sure I have tried that. It takes a long time for a green young branch to air layer based on my experience.

I think we've seen people set 4 or 5 layers on a single long branch, but I don't know about a layer on a pop.
 
I would like to try air layering
How soon can you air layer after you a pot a fig pop? Does the branch have to be certain diameter? Can it be green or does it have to be lignified?
You can airlayer as soon as you want. Unless you girdle, it doesn’t hurt or set it back at all. No diameter restriction, no lignification restriction. The only restrictions are the size of the airlayering container and your support for it. After I up pot the Smith for example, I will wait until the tip is an inch or 2 above my preferred container( Ziploc sandwich bag). I wont need a support because the bag will be sitting right on top of the soil. Another thing I could do is bury the whole thing deep and wait until the whip grows roots at the base and cut it out later like a sucker.
 
Air layer a fig pop? That is a good question. I am not sure I have tried that. It takes a long time for a green young branch to air layer based on my experience.
If this was in reference to me it would be after up pot and some growth. I was only stating i was cultivating 2 trunks from the get go to airlayer one side later.
 
I have seen people graft onto fig pops, but I was thinking more after it is up potted and has 2’ growth on it.
I have grafted on fig pops many times as well. But I don't think I have tried AL on one. Give it a shot if the pop is stable enough.

The worst case scenario is the pop died. That happened a few times to me when I grafted to a pop
 
The peeling/scraping doesn’t permanently hurt the branch? It heals over if the AL fails?

I will scrape or girdle dependent on the age/size/lignification of the branch. People for some reason get concerned about ugly or damaged branches after a failed airlayer. If you think about it, we are airlayering stuff that will be removed no matter what. A branch coming up off the base, an ugly branch, and inward growing branch, etc. So if it fails and you snip it as a cutting at the end of the season, does it matter?
 
No, it wasn't. I
If this was in reference to me it would be after up pot and some growth. I was only stating i was cultivating 2 trunks from the get go to airlayer one side later.
Was reading the posts through the phone so I only read the last one. 😆
 
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That is why I don’t girdle anymore cuz it’s a permanent scar. The scraping is less noticeable. Both won’t hurt the branch unless you want your trees to look perfect.

Out of curiosity, why does the scar matter? Do you not prune the branch either way?
 
Out of curiosity, why does the scar matter? Do you not prune the branch either way?

I would try to layer the same branch again if it didn't root, rather than cut it away.

As for the scar.... I'm thinking someone is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to aesthetics. :rolleyes:

I've shown pictures of my notching that's made some members feel physically ill! :LOL:
 
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