Guest Author - Wendy Lee

For the houseplant owner, having new plants that you’ve propagated yourself growing as vibrantly as those in any store, gives you a sense of pride. One of the lesser known or practiced ways of propagation is air layering. This is most likely because of the time it involves. However, it is one of the more convenient t ways to propagate your own plants especially those house plants that are not easy to root any other way such as Dumb Cane (Deiffenbachia), Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica), and Dracaena's.

Air layering causes roots to emerge while the cutting is still attached to the parent plant. This is done by girdling the stem. Girdling is when a very thin layer of bark is removed from the stem at least three quarters of the way around. What this does is creates a wound on the stem that restricts the amount of water and nutrients going up the stem. Which is precisely why the plant then puts out roots, the plant is looking for a new source of food and water.

The best stems for this type of propagation are at least a year of age; this tissue is old enough to sustain the added weight and actually develop roots, and young enough to still provide vigorous growth.

After the stem has been stripped the cover of choice is sphagnum moss or sterile rooting media which is soaked in water and then wrapped around the exposed tissue. Growth hormones can be used, and is a personal preference. The patch and stem then need to be wrapped with plastic that is tied off at both ends so that moisture does not escape. When enough roots to sustain a root ball become visible through the wrapping, particularly at the bottom of the stem; it is time to pot your project.

Prune the plant beneath the area covered in plastic. Ahead of time, prepare a pot with moistened soil and a planting hole large enough to accept the whole of the root ball. Remove the plastic from your plant carefully so as no to disturb the new root system too much and place into your pot. The top of your root ball should be just below the soil level. Carefully pack soil in around it so as to not crush your new plants roots. If need be you may want to stake your plant. To do this, carefully place two or more stakes: these can be dowels, bamboo stems, even a tomato cage; around your plant so that it will not touch the root system. Tie it lightly in place so that will not move too much while it establishes itself in the new pot.

In due time, stakes can be removed and your plant will be, as Bob Ross says, a ‘happy little plant’. Good Luck!