• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

Air layering shishigashira at BIB meeting

February 8, 2013 by Jonas Dupuich

The topic for this month’s Bay Island Bonsai meeting was air layering. It’s a fast way to create new bonsai – much faster than starting trees from seed or cutting. It’s also a great way to correct defective roots as layering typically produces a good radial root base.

Boon described for us two approaches to layering. The first was a technique often used on beech. To cut off sap flow and stimulate roots, two aluminum wires are applied adjacent to each other. The wires are applied tightly so they dig in a bit. The area is then wrapped in moss to provide moisture for the new roots.

Demonstrating Mitsuya's technique for air-layering beech

Justin demonstrating the 2-wire technique of air-layering beech

The second method is the more familiar of the two – removing a section of bark below the spot where new roots are desired. Layering is typically done at two points in the growing season – early spring and late spring. Trees that root easily like wisteria or cryptomeria can often be layered in May and separated in fall. Maples can be layered in May as well, but it may take two years before they can be separated.

Boon demonstrated this technique for us on a Shishigashira Japanese maple. He started by cutting two rings around a branch with a grafting knife below the spot where the new roots are desired and removed the bark between the rings with knob cutters. Here is the branch after removing the bark.

Making an air-layer

After removing the bark

A small sheet of plastic is secured to hold the moss in place, but before the moss goes in, root hormone is applied.

Making an air-layer

Using gloves to apply root hormone

Making an air-layer

Applying root hormone

Next, the plastic sheet is filled with moist sphagnum moss and wrapped with aluminum wire.

Making an air-layer

Adding moss

Making an air-layer

Wrapping the ball of plastic and moss with wire

Boon then poked holes in the bottom of the plastic with scissors to let the moss drain.

Making an air-layer

Poking drainage holes with scissors

Making an air-layer

All wrapped up

If this branch sprouts enough roots, it will be removed in fall or winter, otherwise it will be removed the following year.

Making an air-layer

A new tree is on the way

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Air Layer, BIB

Previous Post: « Shopping for bonsai
Next Post: Preparing a black pine for exhibit »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. brendenstudio says

    February 8, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    Great ‘how to’ thanks for sharing!

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2025 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT