Clone Your Favorite Fruit Trees: The Ultimate Air Layering Guide

 

WHAT IS AIR LAYERING ?

Air layering is a vegetative method of plant propagation in which we propagate new plants from a stem while it is still attached to the parent plant.(Mother plant).

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MATERIAL REQUIRED

1.A clean sharp knife.
2.Sphagnum moss.
3.Rooting hormone.(IBA(Indole-3-butyric acid) or NAA(Naphthalene Acetic Acid))
4.Polyethylene film.
5 .Tape or Thread.

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WHEN TO DO AIR LAYERING ?

• Spring or early summer even monsoon is best time for air layering.(March to August)
• when the plant is healthy and actively growing.

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PROCEDURE..

 

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PLANTS COMMONLY PROPAGATED BY AIR LAYERING :

It is commonly used for Woody plants which are difficult to propagate by cuttings.

• Fruit Tree’s like – pomegranate,guava,citrus, litchi.
• Ornamental plants like – hibiscus, Bougainvillea.
• Indoor plants like – rubber plants, fiddle leaf fig.
• Woody shrubs.

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ADVANTAGES OF AIR LAYERING:

• High success rate.
• Produce new plants faster then seeds.
• Genetic similarity in new plants.
• Good for difficult to root plants.

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DISADVANTAGES OF AIR LAYERING:

• Takes time .
• Required expertise .
• limited number of plants .
• Required careful moisture control.