..::Layering::....::Layering::..

By: ~*TaShY-tAsH*~By: ~*TaShY-tAsH*~

LayeringLayering Layering is a technique for Layering is a technique for plant propagationplant propagation in which a portion in which a portion

of an aerial of an aerial stemstem is encouraged to grow is encouraged to grow rootsroots while still attached to while still attached to the parent plant and then removed and planted as an independent the parent plant and then removed and planted as an independent plant.plant.

The process typically involves wounding the target region The process typically involves wounding the target region to expose the inner stem and optionally applying to expose the inner stem and optionally applying rooting compoundsrooting compounds. In ground layering, the stem is bent down and . In ground layering, the stem is bent down and the target region buried in the soil. This is done in the target region buried in the soil. This is done in plant nurseriesplant nurseries in imitation of natural layering by many plants such as in imitation of natural layering by many plants such as bramblesbrambles which bow over and touch the tip on the ground, at which point it which bow over and touch the tip on the ground, at which point it grows roots and, when separated, can continue as a separate grows roots and, when separated, can continue as a separate plant. In either case, the rooting process may take from several plant. In either case, the rooting process may take from several weeks to a year.weeks to a year.

Layering is more complicated than taking Layering is more complicated than taking cuttingscuttings, but has , but has the advantage that the propagated portion can continue to receive the advantage that the propagated portion can continue to receive waterwater and and nutrientsnutrients from the parent plant while it is forming roots. from the parent plant while it is forming roots. This is important for plants that form roots slowly, or for This is important for plants that form roots slowly, or for propagating large pieces.propagating large pieces.

Simple LayerSimple Layer can be accomplished by bending can be accomplished by bending

a low growing, flexible stem to a low growing, flexible stem to the ground. Cover part of it with the ground. Cover part of it with soil, leaving the remaining 6 to soil, leaving the remaining 6 to 12 inches above the soil. Bend 12 inches above the soil. Bend the tip into a vertical position the tip into a vertical position and stake in place (Figure 1). and stake in place (Figure 1). The sharp bend will often induce The sharp bend will often induce rooting, but wounding the lower rooting, but wounding the lower side of the bent branch may help side of the bent branch may help also. Simple layering can be also. Simple layering can be done on most plants with low-done on most plants with low-growing branches. Examples of growing branches. Examples of plants propagated by simple plants propagated by simple layering include climbing roses, layering include climbing roses, forsythia, rhododendron, forsythia, rhododendron, honeysuckle, boxwood, azalea, honeysuckle, boxwood, azalea, and wax myrtleand wax myrtle..

Simple layering can be done in early spring using a dormant branch, or in late summer using a mature branch. Periodically check for adequate moisture and for the formation of roots. It may take one or more seasons before the layer is ready to be removed for transplanting.

Tip LayeringTip Layering is quite similar to simple is quite similar to simple

layering. Dig a hole 3 to 4 layering. Dig a hole 3 to 4 inches deep. Insert the tip inches deep. Insert the tip of a current season’s shoot of a current season’s shoot and cover it with soil. The and cover it with soil. The tip grows downward first, tip grows downward first, then bends sharply and then bends sharply and grows upward. Roots form grows upward. Roots form at the bend. The re-curved at the bend. The re-curved tip becomes a new plant tip becomes a new plant (Figure 2). Remove the tip (Figure 2). Remove the tip layer and plant it in late layer and plant it in late fall or early spring. fall or early spring. Examples of plants Examples of plants propagated by tip layering propagated by tip layering include purple and black include purple and black raspberries, and trailing raspberries, and trailing blackberriesblackberries

Compound Compound (serpentine)Layering(serpentine)Layering

is similar to simple layering, is similar to simple layering, but several layers can result but several layers can result from a single stem. Bend the from a single stem. Bend the stem to the rooting medium as stem to the rooting medium as for simple layering, but for simple layering, but alternately cover and expose alternately cover and expose sections of the stem. Each sections of the stem. Each section should have at least section should have at least one bud exposed and one bud one bud exposed and one bud covered with soil. Wound the covered with soil. Wound the lower side of each stem section lower side of each stem section to be covered (Figure 3). This to be covered (Figure 3). This method works well for plants method works well for plants producing vine-like growth producing vine-like growth such as heart-leaf such as heart-leaf philodendron, pothos, wisteria, philodendron, pothos, wisteria, clematis, and grapes.clematis, and grapes.

Mound (stool) LayeringMound (stool) Layering is useful with heavy-is useful with heavy-

stemmed, closely branched stemmed, closely branched shrubs and rootstocks of shrubs and rootstocks of tree fruits. Cut the plant tree fruits. Cut the plant back to 1 inch above the back to 1 inch above the soil surface in the dormant soil surface in the dormant season. Dormant buds will season. Dormant buds will produce new shoots in the produce new shoots in the spring. Mound soil over the spring. Mound soil over the new shoots as they grow new shoots as they grow (Figure 4). Roots will (Figure 4). Roots will develop at the bases of the develop at the bases of the young shoots. Remove the young shoots. Remove the layers in the dormant layers in the dormant season. Mound layering season. Mound layering works well on apple works well on apple rootstocks, spirea, quince, rootstocks, spirea, quince, daphne, magnolia, and daphne, magnolia, and cotoneastercotoneaster

Air LayeringAir Layering can be used to propagate large, overgrown can be used to propagate large, overgrown

house plants such as rubber plant, croton, or house plants such as rubber plant, croton, or dieffenbachia that have lost most of their lower dieffenbachia that have lost most of their lower leaves. Woody ornamentals such as azalea, leaves. Woody ornamentals such as azalea, camellia, magnolia, oleander, and holly can camellia, magnolia, oleander, and holly can also be propagated by air layering. For also be propagated by air layering. For optimum rooting, make air layers in the spring optimum rooting, make air layers in the spring on shoots produced during the previous season on shoots produced during the previous season or in mid to late summer on shoots from the or in mid to late summer on shoots from the current season’s growth. For woody plants, current season’s growth. For woody plants, stems of pencil size diameter or larger are stems of pencil size diameter or larger are best. Choose an area just below a node and best. Choose an area just below a node and remove leaves and twigs on the stem 3 to 4 remove leaves and twigs on the stem 3 to 4 inches above and below this point. This is inches above and below this point. This is normally done on a stem about 1 foot from the normally done on a stem about 1 foot from the tip.tip.

Air Layering Cont’dAir Layering Cont’d Air layering differs, depending on whether the plant Air layering differs, depending on whether the plant

is a monocot or a dicot. For monocots, make an is a monocot or a dicot. For monocots, make an upward 1- to 1 1/2-inch cut about one-third through upward 1- to 1 1/2-inch cut about one-third through the stem. The cut is held open with a toothpick or the stem. The cut is held open with a toothpick or wooden match stick. Surround the wound with wooden match stick. Surround the wound with moist, unmilled sphagnum moss (about a handful) moist, unmilled sphagnum moss (about a handful) that has been soaked in water and squeezed to that has been soaked in water and squeezed to remove excess moisture. Wrap the moss with plastic remove excess moisture. Wrap the moss with plastic and hold in place with twist ties or electrician’s and hold in place with twist ties or electrician’s tape. No moss should extend beyond the ends of the tape. No moss should extend beyond the ends of the plastic. Fasten each end of the plastic securely, to plastic. Fasten each end of the plastic securely, to retain moisture and to prevent water from entering. retain moisture and to prevent water from entering. If exposed to the sun, the plastic should be covered. If exposed to the sun, the plastic should be covered. Aluminum foil can also be used, as it does not Aluminum foil can also be used, as it does not require twist ties or tape to hold it in place.require twist ties or tape to hold it in place.

Air Layering Cont’dAir Layering Cont’d The process for dicots is similar, except a 1-inch The process for dicots is similar, except a 1-inch

ring of bark is removed from the stem. With a ring of bark is removed from the stem. With a sharp knife, make two parallel cuts about an sharp knife, make two parallel cuts about an inch apart around the stem and through the inch apart around the stem and through the bark and cambium layer (Figure 5). Connect the bark and cambium layer (Figure 5). Connect the two parallel cuts with one long cut. Remove the two parallel cuts with one long cut. Remove the ring of bark, leaving the inner woody tissue ring of bark, leaving the inner woody tissue exposed. Scrape the newly bared ring to exposed. Scrape the newly bared ring to remove the cambial tissue to prevent a bridge remove the cambial tissue to prevent a bridge of callus tissue from forming. Application of a of callus tissue from forming. Application of a root-promoting substance to the exposed root-promoting substance to the exposed wound is sometimes beneficial. Wrap and cover wound is sometimes beneficial. Wrap and cover using the same procedure as that described for using the same procedure as that described for monocots.monocots.

Natural Forms Of LayeringNatural Forms Of Layering Sometimes layering occurs naturally, Sometimes layering occurs naturally,

without the assistance of a without the assistance of a propagator. Runners and offsets are propagator. Runners and offsets are specialized plant structures that specialized plant structures that facilitate propagation by layering.facilitate propagation by layering.

A runner produces new shoots where A runner produces new shoots where it touches the growing medium it touches the growing medium (Figure 6). Plants that produce (Figure 6). Plants that produce stolons or runners are propagated by stolons or runners are propagated by severing the new plants from their severing the new plants from their parent stems. Plantlets at the tips of parent stems. Plantlets at the tips of runners may be rooted while still runners may be rooted while still attached to the parent or detached attached to the parent or detached and placed in a rooting medium. and placed in a rooting medium. Examples include strawberry and Examples include strawberry and spider plant.spider plant.

Natural Forms of Layering Natural Forms of Layering Cont’dCont’d

Plants with rosetted stems often Plants with rosetted stems often reproduce by forming new shoots, reproduce by forming new shoots, called offshoots, at their base or in called offshoots, at their base or in the leaf axles. Sever the new the leaf axles. Sever the new shoots from the parent plant after shoots from the parent plant after they have developed their own they have developed their own root systems. Unrooted offsets of root systems. Unrooted offsets of some species may be removed and some species may be removed and placed in a rooting medium. Some placed in a rooting medium. Some of these must be cut off, whereas of these must be cut off, whereas others may simply be lifted from others may simply be lifted from the parent stem. Examples include the parent stem. Examples include date palm, bromeliads, and many date palm, bromeliads, and many cacti.cacti.

Bibliography Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layerinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layeringg

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8701.htmlhort/hil/hil-8701.html