Early Fall Air Layering

[Charlie Ficus Empiricus Find all posts View Profile Close Charlie]

Been doing some air layering, using some gallon pots on my larger figs and the old foam bowls from last Winter indoors grow on the smaller figs. Haven't done this with foam so I guess it's another experiment. I like they can be customized to fit the exact limb you want to root.

[F. Bennett Veteran Find all posts View Profile Close F. Bennett]

Great idea, Charlie. I need a window to see roots on my air layers. I've noticed some are much later putting out roots than others, even if air layered at the same time on the same tree.

[eboone Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close eboone]

I guess you have a longer growing season than me, right Charlie (Ark?)? Have you started airlayers this late or later before with success? My growing season really ends at end of Sept usually, and we start to get some cool weather in Sept, so I think fig growth will really slow down in a few weeks. I just started some air layers today to see how they would work.

[Charlie]

Yes the ones last year were pretty late and all survived. Checked the date and it was 9/7/14.

[Charlie Ficus Empiricus Find all posts View Profile Close Charlie]

Hey Frank. Here's a few more since posting the first time.

[Charlie Ficus Empiricus Find all posts View Profile Close Charlie]

Added a few more today. The Desert King was purchased as a tissue culture last year and was very small, lots of stems. The other pic is a grouping of layers, right to left, Olympian, two Ischia, two Vasilika Sika and an Emerald Strawberry. On the far side not seen are a Latarulla Italian Honey and Beall that I owe somebody that didn't get sent last year.

[Jamie0507 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Jamie0507]

Wow, very interesting! I have been wanting to try air-layering myself but I thought it may be too late in the season to get them going in time. Like Ed, I also have a shorter growing season and it's already getting down into the higher 50's here at night. I'm in northeastern PA (Zone 6A), I wonder if I could get away with it if I did the air layers today? What growing zone are you in Charlie?

[AscPete]

If the plants are stored in a location that stays at or above freezing there is no reason why the air layers can't be started now. They could be left on the tree over Winter and separated in Spring. You may also have sufficient time left before frost to grow sufficient roots to separate and pot before dormancy. Note attached posts on air layering.
http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...r-just-24-days
http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...6658#post16658
http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...w-to-air-layer
http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...tainer-options

[Charlie Ficus Empiricus Find all posts View Profile Close Charlie]

I'm in zone 7b, just a bit South of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Woooooo Fig

[Charlie Ficus Empiricus Find all posts View Profile Close Charlie]

This is a kinda neat root indicator. Busting out the seams!

[pacifica Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pacifica]

Hi Charlie : Do you water them often ? How ofter if needed ?

[Charlie]

The ones in sealed up foam bowls I never watered extra unless some got in around the stems. The open top ones I covered with wood chips mulch and watered every 3-4 days just a little while watering pots. Media for all my layers this year is about 50/50 wal mart compost I got on clearance and clay cat litter, big bag $3 at the dollar store.

[pacifica Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pacifica]

Noted with many thanks............ Charlie

[Charlie Ficus Empiricus Find all posts View Profile Close Charlie]

Removed lid on Green Ischia to check for roots.