Bonsai Knowledge: How to Quickly Obtain a Small Old Bonsai Stump

The girdling air-layering method is a propagation method used by Chinese growers, with a relatively high survival rate and wide adaptability. Thin branches, thick branches and old branches can all be propagated by air layering, and research has even been done on transplanting whole trees by air layering, reducing the manpower needed for transplanting and reducing damage to the soil from tree removal. The air-layering process is simple: remove the bark and wrap it with moss, and keep it moist until the roots are strong enough to support the tree.

Pull out the spot that needs air layering.

The girdled ring is about two centimeters wide.

Scrape off the cambium layer.

Wrap the girdled section with a plastic bag and fasten it.

Place soaked moss in it.

Fill it in to make sure the girdled area is completely wrapped. Aluminum wire is wrapped around it, with a certain gap at the top, so that the moss can be watered when it dries out.

The plastic bag wrapped around the air layer looks a bit old and weathered.

New roots can be seen through the plastic bag. When the plastic bag is removed, many white tender roots can be seen coming out of the moss.

The moss is expected to be peeled away, and the recovery of new roots is far beyond imagination.

Cut off the excess stem below the roots so that it can be placed in a pot.