Plant Propagation 101: Air Layering or Marcotting

What You Will Learn?

• In this short class, you will learn how to propagate plants using air layering..
• Air layering is a method of propagating a plant by girdling or cutting part way into a stem or branch and packing the area with a moist medium, such as sphagnum moss, stimulating root formation so that the stem or branch can be removed and grown as an independent plant..
• The procedure was to wound the stem or branch of a plant and enclose the wounded stem with moist sphagnum moss or similar rooting medium until roots develop from the wounded area. Success was dependent upon the ability of the propagator to keep the rooting medium moist until the roots were formed and large enough to support the new plant. Only since the development of polyethylene film has air layering become a practical method of propagation for the home gardener and amateur horticulturist..
• Air layering seldom is used on plants that root easily by other less complicated methods, but it is useful for rooting ornamental plants such as ornamental figs, dieffenbachia, croton and others of a herbaceous nature. Woody plants frequently propagated in this manner include magnolia, holly, camellia, azalea and many of the fruit and nut-bearing plants such as citrus, apple, pears and pecans..