What is the operation method of high branch layering?

Bend the branches of plants to the ground, bury them with soil, and when enough roots grow, cut them off from the mother plant and cultivate them into new plants independently. This mode of communication is called layered communication. High-branch layering, also known as air layering, is a method of layering propagation. Some evergreen woody flowers are difficult to take root by cutting or slow rooting, and many branches are not easy to bend to reach the ground, so the high branch layering method is often used for propagation. Although this method has low reproduction rate and troublesome operation, it has high success rate.

First, select branches that are more than 2 years old, peel and cut the lower part into a ring near the node, and tie or twine the branches with lead wire to destroy the phloem of this part and promote the formation of the upper roots of this part. Then wrap the wound with damp moss, peat soil or culture soil, wrap it with plastic film outside, and tie the upper and lower ends tightly.

Be sure to wrap it tightly to prevent water loss. If the temperature is suitable, it can take root in 2 ~ 3 months. Rooting can be seen through plastic film. After rooting, cut it below the layering position, remove the plastic film, and pot it into new plants.

In hot and humid areas such as Guangdong and Fujian, wet straw is often used to form shallow bags at the lower part of branch cuts, and granular pond mud or burning soil is filled in them to carry out high-branch layering, which has good effect and is suitable for local rainy and humid climate conditions.

This propagation method is often used for woody flowers such as rubber tree, dragon blood tree, white orchid, Milan, Liriodendron and so on. Usually stratified in late spring and early summer. During this period, the temperature began to rise, and plants entered a vigorous growth period, which was easy to take root. The rooted layering could be cut and planted in late summer and early autumn. During the layering period of 2 ~ 3 months, materials such as moss and culture soil used for layering often dry up. You can use a syringe to inject water in the middle, or you can disassemble the plastic film and add water.

Figure 1-3 Rubber tree high branch layering