air layer a schefflera now in maryland

16 years ago

Hello,

I got one of those Lowes 2"thick single trunk dwarf sheffleras that is 5 feet tall with dozens of branches at the top. The top 2 feet if airlayered off will produce an amazing bonsai, Ive tried cutting up in the bark in 3 spots wedged in toothpicks and put wet spagnum moss around it with no luck of getting roots. Should I girdle it all the way around at this point? or is it too late in the summer, I have it in shade but could give it more light, up until its time to move it in. Because there is no room inside for the whole tall plant Im tempted to chop off the top and remove some foliage and treat the whole thing like a cutting (or is this certain death?)

thanks

alex

Comments (4)

lucy
16 years ago
I've never heard of trying to airlayer without girdling, or using hormone rooting powder in the wedge cut. Just cutting the bark may only get you lumpy healed over places. How much time are you giving it for roots to grow out? It can take months with some trees. Why is it in shade? I can't say if it'll bud back below any branches if you chop it, but I think it might... just don't take my word alone for it.
castorcrap
Original Author
16 years ago
well, I guess I can leave it in good morning sun until our southern maryland frost comes (october 1st?) then chop it off below the girdle. I only didnt girdle it because I vaguely remember hearing it is a member of the aralia family and as a result sheffleras dont have a true stem (maybee more like a dracenea or palm tree) and that girdling wouldnt work with these kind of species. But im not real sure. Do you think I should cut back some leaves, give it more light, girdle it, then give it till before first frost and chop it down at that point no matter what it has on it? or do you think it could continue rooting in the moss If I move it indoors. (remove leaves is a good idea to decrease evaporation?, or try a clear bag instead?)
thanks
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lucy
16 years ago
I honestly don't know enough about Schefflera to advise you about the trunk or stems, but cutting leaves at the same time as trying to give it more light seems possibly contrary, and would also leave it with very little energy to grow new roots. Early-mid spring is the time to be doing things, not the end of summer or fall, and I don't think chopping it (certainly at that time) is going to work either. I understand what you want to do, but whether it's doable is another question. It's one thing to work on the bottom (rooted) half of a tree you chop, another to magically resurrect the top half after chopping, so unless you can definitely do a good air layer on it (in spring!), I have doubts about your chances.
sam20080
15 years ago
A quirk of Maryland's geography is that the state contains no natural lakes.There are numerous man-made lakes, the largest being Deep Creek Lake, a reservoir in Garrett County.
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Sam

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