Over three years ago, I mentioned picking up a cryptomeria at Maruyama’s Bonsai Nursery, but had yet to follow up with a post. Here’s the tree. Tall cryptomeria – about 48″ The tree was the left-over base from which a large air layer had been removed. Although there was little taper, much of the trunk […]
Air Layer
Japanese maple air layer – a check up
Last May I started an air layer on an old Japanese maple (see “Air layering a Japanese maple“). Curious if there was any root growth, I opened up the bag in February. There was callus, but no new roots. Japanese maple Good callus, no roots To stimulate the production of new roots, I opened up […]
Hinoki air layer
When the time came to air layer two large grafted hinoki, Michael Hagedorn happened to be in town for a visit – a perfect opportunity to learn how he approaches layering. He’d last visited my garden about four years ago (see “The joys of professional work“) so it was nice to catch up. Before cutting into […]
Hinoki air layer – preparation
About a year has passed since I picked up two large Tempelhof hinoki with the aim as developing them as bonsai (see “New hinoki bonsai“). The first real bonsai work began last year when I repotted one of the trees. As I dug down to locate the surface roots, I discovered that the tree was grafted. […]
Air layering shishigashira at BIB meeting
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 […]