Layering plants Simple Mound Trench or French Serpentine

Air layering, the plant is a Ficus spp. A clear stem is selected as shown by the finger, this is where the roots will develop.

A black plastic bag is tied tightly around the base of clear stem and tied securely with string as shown by the yellow arrow.

A vertical cut of 5 cm length is made into the clear stem. It is important to expose the cambium (Green) of the stem, as shown by the yellow arrow.

A small cane is placed at the bottom of the cut to ensure it stays open all times. The roots will develop when the cambium differentiates. Remember there is cambium on both sides of this cut surface, as shown by the yellow arrows.

Vermiculite (or Sphagnum moss) is placed over the cut area, within the black plastic bag. The black plastic bag will completely cover over the wound area.

This slide shows the vermiculite, now completely covering the wound area.

The vermiculite is moistened, before sealing up the bag at the top. There should be no need to add any more water to the moist vermiculite, until the roots develop in approximately 6 to 9 months time.

The bag is now completely sealed and securely tied with string as shown. It is useful to add a label with the date of the air layering exercise at this stage. It will take approximately 6 to 9 months for a good root system to develop within the bag.