Go to amazon and get yourself a good book before trying to air-layer for the first time. you will have a much better sucess rate. good luck.

Or go to a local nursery and pick up a couple-of-yrs-old juniper in a pot and work with that - they're very inexpensive and you won't have to fuss about layering or rooting or anything else.

Junipers are very tricky to root, from what I have heard. I'd go with lucy's suggestion.

Just a wild guess here, but I am thinking Rammankin wants cuttings of this particular tree because of sentimental value. If not, then I would think that would be quite a task, and much easier to just buy one. Otherwise, I would think you have nothing to lose! Good luck, and maybe your grandfather will help those roots along :-)

Several months ago, I bought a large-ish ponytail palm because my mother, who passed away, grew one, and I inherited it but a "babysitter" killed it. I decided to get another adult ponytail. I was told it would be easier to start with another tree for bonsai. I'm not a "bonsai" person, but wanted to keep the tree like she did (in a bonsai pot). So I completely understand that sometimes you just want what you want, for whatever reason, even if it's not going to be easy :-)

Good luck if you decide to try it.

Gabi

kyelzo, I don't know who told you junipers are hard to root, but the opposite is true. Cuttings up to 1/2 inch thick should root 100%.

When you take the cutting, use a razor blade or scalpel or grafting knife to sort of sharpen the base like a pencil. The knife has to be as sharp as humanly possible. This avoids damaging the cambium, where roots will be issued. Then dust with root hormone and plant in a free-draining soil or in your garden. Keep them moist but not soggy. They should all root.

I ended up buying a japanese juniper bonsai starter plant from a bonsai nursery for now.

As I get more experienced, though, I'll try taking a cutting or air layer of gramps' old tree.