Method and process of layering
– A low-growing stem is bent down to touch a hole dug in the ground
– The stem is pinned in place using a clothes hanger hook shape
– The stem is covered with soil, leaving a few inches of leafy growth above the ground
– Removing a section of skin from the lower-facing stem part may help the rooting process
– If using rooting hormone, the stem should be cut just beneath a node and the hormone applied before burying
Plant types and benefits of layering
– Layering produces new plants that are clones of the original plant
– The new plants exhibit the same characteristics as the original, including flower, fruit, and foliage
– Layering is particularly useful for managing cascading or spreading plants
– Potting a new limb through layering can provide extra plants without sowing new seeds
– Layering can help rejuvenate overgrown potted plants by bringing the stem back to soil level
Ground layering
– Ground layering is a common propagation technique for clonal apple rootstocks
– The original plants are set in the ground with the stem nearly horizontal, forcing side buds to grow upward
– The side branches are buried up to a certain distance from the tip
– At the end of the growing season, the rooted side branches can be separated for grafting or reuse in the nursery
– Ground layering is also used to develop visible surface roots, known as nebari, in bonsai trees
Air layering
– In air layering, the target region is wounded by an upward cut and held open
– A moisture-retaining medium like sphagnum moss or cloth is placed around the wound
– A moisture barrier such as plastic film is tied or taped to prevent moisture loss or excess water
– Rooting hormone is often applied to encourage root growth
– Once sufficient roots have grown, the stem is removed and planted separately, protecting it until the new roots take hold
Related concepts
– Coppicing
– Hedge laying
– Cashew of Pirangi Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layering
