My first lychee air layer!

[Pancrazio]

This is my first air layer with a lychee.

It took several months to be done: i put it up in May and took those pictures just two days ago.

The plant is a Sweetheart cultivar. All in all, has been pretty easy, but i made a mistake that almost costed me the success: i didn't eliminate the cambium layer under the bark by scraping it , and it almost healed the inch of bark i cut away by producing an abundant callus.

So, if you plan to do it, don't forget to scrape the cambium!


The plant after the tin foil removal, showing the air layer.



The plastic was filled with roots, so i thought it was ready.


The removed plant. It's just a foot tall.


That's the actual callus. It almost covered completly the cut, healing it,  as you can see: it is continuous between the bark. I guess that this could have lead to a failure on the long run. 

[Ethan]

Great job Pan, those roots look nice and thick!

[plantlover13]

Nice!

[PltdWorld]

Congratulations on the success and thanks for sharing the photos!

[marklee]

Nice roots, make sure you trim half of the leaves and keep the plant in some humidity. I get success by potting up and place some stakes around it and then put a plastic bag over it, and then place in a warm shaded area until you get it more established.

[Jacob13]

Very Nice!

[Pancrazio]

Thank you guys. I have covered the new plant and removed many leaves, i hope it will get established before winter!

[puglvr1]

Wow!! That looks Great Pan...Congrats!! Great job 

Best of luck with your new lychee air layer!!

[Felipe]

Nice

[Zambezi]

Those are some nice white roots. Great Job!! 

[fruitlovers]

Pancrazio, if you do a lychee air layer again next time i would wait and cut it when there are a lot more roots formed in the sphagnum moss ball. The more roots formed the higher your chance of it rooting succesfully when you put it in a pot.
Here are 3 stages of rooting. I like to cut them in stage 3, at far right.

[Pancrazio]

Thank you guys!

Hey Oscar, I'll follow your suggestion if I'll get the opportunity. The main reason why i cut it now is that i just have another month or so of relatively high temperature; after that daily maximum temperature will surely be under 75F and tropical will slow down a lot; i was scared about to lychee weren't able to estabilish in such environment.

I think that being able to make air layer of so small size is very convenient.