I took five air-layers on an European hornbeam planted on the street in front of my house and only one succeeded.
June 19, 2022
First I remove the bark and cambium.
A plastic bag is attached to the branch.
Rooting hormones are applied around the edge where I expect roots to grow.
I fill the bag with moist sphagnum moss.
The bag is completely closed and I pierce drainage holes in the top and bottom.
Here is the donor tree:
October 3, 2022
One air-layer produced roots. I gently clean the roots in a bucket of water to remove most of the sphagnum moss using a stick. Finally I planted the layer in 100 % akadama with mycorrhiza.
20 % success rate
4 air-layers out of 5 failed and did not produce roots. The cambium layer repaired itself and a new bark bridge connects the branch to the trunk. It seems I did not remove enough wood in the first place.
