The Carissa Macrocarpa is finally grounded

I started the air layering experiment on the Natal plum - Carissa Macrocarpa on June 2nd 2010.

Original post here Original post    and First update  here.

After one month exactly today I inspected the soil & definitely the roots have grown more and as the weather is getting hotter I decided to risk putting it into the ground now rather than waiting another 2 weeks.

Soil bag opened for inspection

   

Roots visible here the bigger ones are white in colour .

I cut the stem at a 45 deg angle just below the soil bag

The cut stem with plastic still attached. I carefully removed the wire ties & the plastic trying not to disturb the roots. Unfortunately I rushed & lost part of the roots.

The Carisa was potted here & staked for support . I removed some of the lower leaves but may need to remove more (depends on how well the new roots hold). Obviously the young plant needs to be kept in shade & protected from wind till it grows more roots. 

Hopefully it will do well & grow . I will keep you posted ofc :)

If it does well & will graft a mature fruiting stem on it.

Quick update on the Natal plum air layering experiment

I did the air layering on the Carissa Macrocarpa on 2nd Jun 2010. The soil was remoistened on 11 June.

Again I remoistened it the 19th . I examined the plant then guess what , it has actually produced some roots though funnily enough not where I did the cut but below it as it seems the soil slipped down. Oh well it seems to be ok. I will give it a couple of weeks more & then will try to transplant it.

Original post here:

http://megardenlover.blogspot.com/2010/06/air-layering-my-carissa-macrocarpa.html

Air layering my Carissa Macrocarpa

This thorny plant ( Carissa Macrocarpa ) started to grow towards the garden path. Since I will trim it away from the path anyway , I decided to try my hand at air layering technique for propagating plants.

The theory is that if you wound a plant stem it will under the right circumstances try to grow new roots. Once the roots grow , you cut below the root area & transplant somewhere else in the garden,

Tools needed are simple. Sharp knife , plastic bag & some moist compost or clean potting mix. As usual I clean my knife with alcohol to stop spreading bacteria while cutting the plant.

As always be carefull handling any sharp tools. I would recommend wearing gloves when handling any kind of plant as some could be poisonous or causes skin irritation.

Here is the plant is cleared of thorns & leaves where we will cut.

I cut a circular cut around the whole stem then another cut below it approx 3-5 cm below it. Then a vertical straight cut from the top cut to the bottom then started to remove the bark & cambium.

Now I wrapped the plastic bag below the cut area using a wire wrapper. Then started to fill the bag with moist potting mix & shaped it like a ball around the cut area.

I tied the top of the bag with another wrapper & used a stake to support the extra weight.

Hopefully within a few weeks it should start start to root. I will be opening the top of the bag every now & then to examine the progress & remoisting the bag. Some recommend covering the bag with alumunium foil to keep it moist.

Here's a video from You tube if you are interested.