How many days it takes to start rooting in air layering
- Litchi air layering
- Rose air layering
- Rubber air layering
- Guava air layering
- Citrus air layering
What is air layering?
Air layering is a method of plant propagation. This is also known as gootte or hawaii dab. In this method one year old healthy and straight shoot is selected and a ring of bark measuring about 2.5 cm just below a bud is removed. Moist sphagnum moss is placed around this portion and is wrapped with a polythene strip. It is light in weight, and has a very high water holding capacity being able to absorb 10 to 20 times its weight of water. If moist sphagnum moss is not available, then a mixture of clay soil and cow dung (1:1) can be used to cover that portion of the shoot from where the ring of bark has been removed. This is then wrapped with a moist piece of gunny bag which, in turn, is covered with a polythene sheet. The clay cow dung mixture along with moist gunny bag also retain sufficient moisture for root development. The polythene covering does not allow the moisture to come out but permits gas exchange. Moreover, the layers need to be watered afterwards which saves considerable labour.
Also read: Propagation methods in fruit plants
Best time
Air layering can be practised during February-March and July-August in guava, litchi, sapota, loquat, etc. After a few week the roots are developed, which are visible through the transparant polythene covering. Then a half way cut should be given to the layers on the patent branch at least 15 days prior to their permanent removal from the mother plant. At the time of separation, a few leaves or small shoot should be removed from the layers to keep an optimum balance of root and shoot. It is also advisable to plant these layers in the nursery for close attention than to plant them directly in the field. These layers can be planted in the fields during the following year in February or September-Octdays.
Litchi air layering
Litchi is a hard woody plant. Commercial method of propagation is AL. Grafting is also practiced in propagation of litchi. 6 month old current season shoots are used for air layering in litchi.
Callus formation
When a cut is made in the selected branch of the plant for air layering, a wound is formed there, and the process of filling this wound is started by the plant as soon as possible. In this process, callus is formed around the ring, and the root is formed from this callus itself. Climate plays an important role in the formation of callus, in favorable condition callus is formed very quickly.
How many days it takes to root in litchi by air layering?
Answer: It takes 1.5 months start rooting in litchi air-layering. Being a perennial woody plant it takes more time to initiate root formation. Current season 6 months old shoot produce fast rooting. Older shoot will take 1.5-2 months to initiate rooting.
Also read: Litchi Air Layering Time: Propagation Method
Also read: Easily Available Soil Media for Litchi Air Layering
Rose air layering
Rose is a semi hardwood plant. Spring, summer and rainy season are the active growth period in rose. In rose,
- Hard wood shoot will take longer time to initiate root. It takes 1-1.5 months to start rooting.
- Semi hardwood shoot will root easily. It rakes 20-25 days to start rooting.
- Softwood shoot usually won’t start rooting. Instead, it will rot.
Rubber plant air layering
Rubber plant belongs to family Moraceae. Other important plants from this family are fig, banyan tree, sacred fig, etc. Some plants from this family naturally produce roots in aerial parts such as banyan tree. Rubber plants aslo produce roots in basel parts. It is very easy to make new plants by air-layering in rubber plant. It takes only 15-20 days to initiate rooting in rubber plant.
Guava air layering
Guava is a major tropical fruit plant. It is a major fruit plant in India among mango, litchi, apple, peach, pear, etc. Air layering is the commercial method of propagation in guava. It is very easy to perform. Rainy season layers produce more roots than spring one. It takes 20-30 days to produce roots in air layering in guava.
Citrus air layering
Citrus spp. such as lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, etc., are evergreen fruit plant. Air layering, budding, seed are the different method of plant propagation in citrus plants. Citrus air layering takes 20-25 days to produce root.
Others plants
- Poinsettia: Rooting starts in 15-20 days
- Mussaenda: Rooting starts in 30-35 days
- Cinnamon: Rooting starts in 30-45 days
- Mango: Rooting starts in 45 days
- Croton: Rooting starts in 15-20 days
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Which plant is easy to AL?
Answer: Rubber plant, rose, croton, etc., are very easy to AL.
Question: What are the importance of AL?
Answer: The importance of AL are as follows:
- A single branch can be layered in multiple areas. Hence, more plants can be obtained.
- It is easier than grafting and budding.
Question: How many days AL takes in spring season?
Answer: It takes 35-45 days.
Question: How many days AL takes in rainy season?
Answer: It takes 15-30 days