I will try to air layer a citrus branch soon. Do you use sphagnum moss for rooting medium? Here is the procedure as I understand it: (1) soak the moss in water for an hour,(2) scrape away the green cambium layer to expose the white tissue and apply rooting hormone, and (3)pack the moss around the branch then cover with a piece of plastic and tie at both ends. Any other tips?


At what point do I cut the branch from the parent tree? Is it better to leave it longer to allow more time to develop more roots? Once the branch is removed pot it and place the pot in shade?

This will be my first time air layering so I hope everything goes well

Sounds good to me except in the nursery business I found that on some plants root tone did more damage than good so I stopped using it on anything, it caused the cambium and bark to rot. I used a good potting soil to promote root growth. Imagine planting a plant is moss, in some plants the roots will grow up and out of the moss on a mist bed. After rapping the limb in soil and plastic ( or a bag with a hole cut in the bottom) keep it shaded and moist. You can cut a small hole in the top to water it and punch a hole in the bottom to let it drain. Just MHO.

I did this with some Magnolia's I have , but never tried it on citruses.

Tri , did they survived and make some roots?

As for rooting hormone I use honey (pure untreated ) and some aspirine mixed togheter.

Good luck on air layering