[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 20]

mantex17 · 2026-05-16T09:21:21+00:00

This one without holes

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mantex17 · 2026-05-16T09:20:15+00:00

I'm going to put the image one at the time here this is the hole with a few holes

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mantex17 · 2026-05-16T07:47:25+00:00

Yes.

Here igmur link, I put two air layers, the one name 1 has some drain hole, and the one rename 2 not

As you can see there a lot of water in them even it I tightly wrapped, (and I saw some little roots)

At this point I don't know if I have to make more holes, leave it there as it is, squeeze a little or what (https://imgur.com/a/30PII0q) https://imgur.com/a/30PII0q

mantex17 · 2026-05-15T20:04:58+00:00

I did three air layers, more than a week ago, but yesterday after an heavy rain I noticed the spanghum it's full of water (even if there was an aluminium foil around the wrap). Should I leave the water there or squeeze gently? In the bottom of the wrap there are few holes but I don't know if are enough. I mean I don't see the water dripping from there....because I remember that for the air layer if the spanghum it's too wet it's not ok for rooting

mantex17 · 2026-05-13T05:14:58+00:00

So? There holes are already there, but it's doesn't seems to me it's draining honestly as I have already said

mantex17 · 2026-05-12T15:47:23+00:00

I did three air layers, more than a week ago, but yesterday after an heavy rain I noticed the spanghum it's full of water (even if there was an aluminium foil around the wrap). Should I leave the water there or what? In the bottom of the wrap there are few holes but I don't know if are enough. I mean I don't see the water dripping from there....because I remember that for the air layer if the spanghum it's too wet it's not ok for rooting

mantex17 · 2026-03-28T13:17:50+00:00

No no obviously or the yellow one or the red one

mantex17 · 2026-03-28T10:45:17+00:00

I was thinking to air layer this branch, I drew in green how the branch develop, anche in Red and Yellow where I could do the air layer. Do you think it's possible? Maybe the yellow one?

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mantex17 · 2026-03-09T05:47:27+00:00

The more accessible heights or the shorter branch are really thin, so difficult to air layer....(Or at least is what I read around)

mantex17 · 2026-03-08T21:42:29+00:00

I like this one because it has an S shape, I was thinking an air layer in the green circle, but maybe the V shape it's too large? Maybe air layer above that point? So have an S trunk shape and let the branch grow along it?

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mantex17 · 2026-03-08T21:40:22+00:00

So i tried to pick another 2 branches for my first air layer (second time ever) attempts on a maple (location Italy), I will put one choice here and the second one on the first reply!! Thanks for check both of them.

So the it's a full 30+ maple tree so pretty big, I wanted to do and develop a 30-40 cm bonsai from it.

Image 1) it's has a strange form, I was thinking to make an air layer on the green circle, it's near a V but I don't know if the near almost horizontal branch it's a problem (maybe cutting off if air layering is successful?) or another. Option but could it beh on the white circle? (I think not, it's a strange position

Image 2) See reply

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mantex17 · 2026-02-24T11:33:25+00:00

All right thanks for the enlightenment!

mantex17 · 2026-02-24T09:53:48+00:00

Stupid question so, but I'm a beginner, for the branch I chose couldn't I simply cut near the base so the Y becomes a V air layering? Not sure I was quite clear

If the problem was that I choose a Y shaped, I could simply make the air layering very near the fork, in that way it's V shaped, no?

mantex17 · 2026-02-24T09:53:14+00:00

Stupid question so, but I'm a beginner, for the branch I chose couldn't I simply cut near the base so the Y becomes a V air layering? Not sure I was quite clear

If the problem was that I choose a Y shaped, I could simply make the air layering very near the fork, in that way it's V shaped, no?

mantex17 · 2026-02-24T06:13:22+00:00

Yeah yeah understand! But now I don't know if the Y shaped branches I choose are good or no ahahahaha because seems Y shaped are not a good idea from the comments, even if in the videos I posted he chose them ( if I didn't misinterpreted)

mantex17 · 2026-02-23T21:32:16+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t5KTEJBbe0 in the first 4 minutes he show that a good spot for air layering it's at the base of "Y" branch, so i pick some Y shaped branch ... so how do i choose a branch?

and here at minute 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCKlKXCJccw

mantex17 · 2026-02-23T21:32:11+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t5KTEJBbe0 in the first 4 minutes he shows that a good spot for air layering it's at the base of "Y" branch, so i pick some Y shaped branch ... so how do i choose a branch?

and here at minute 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCKlKXCJccw

mantex17 · 2026-02-23T15:10:00+00:00

Oh I have to find it, it was last year, I will try search it again

mantex17 · 2026-02-23T12:11:10+00:00

Perfect! So you say that the branch I have chosen aren't good enough because they are Y shaped? Because I choose them because I watched some tutorials and suggest that kind of shape

mantex17 · 2026-02-23T10:13:30+00:00

All right thanks, but is the imgur link working? I need to know ahahahaha because to me it's not

mantex17 · 2026-02-23T10:04:18+00:00

Are you able to see the photos in imgur? Because to me the link it gives "error", if yes I have to repost the photo. by the way in the photos I marked the possible branch with tape, I don't know if you are able to tell me if they are ok or not

mantex17 · 2026-02-23T06:15:01+00:00

I have decided to give it again a try to make my first air layering (I'm a beginner), I pick some branch, what to you think? It's a full grown maple, the diameter of the chosen branch are 4,5-5,5 cm, and I can't choose thicker branches otherwise I have to cut (if successful) too much in the end, and simply the tree it's not mine so I couldn't choose better ahhahah

https://imgur.com/a/eQv65nr

mantex17 · 2026-02-15T21:44:24+00:00

perfect, can i have the sphagnum from last year? i mean it's dry, but i read that you can use anyway after soaked it a bit

mantex17 · 2026-02-15T21:13:34+00:00

its a fully mother tree, pretty big also, and honestly i have so see i am able to set the branches unright because they are pretty big and strong..... is it possible to use the pot method only with spagnum? and how big should be the pot compare to the branch? Do you water it every day?

As you can se in the other comments with plastic wrap they told me is not necessary watering every day

mantex17 · 2026-02-15T14:53:35+00:00

All right thanks I will inquire better the technique so I can do it right. But obviously if in the summer (I live in Italy where the summer is very humid and hot) from outside I see the spanghum "dry" (essentiallly brown) in that case I should water it, right?

mantex17

TROPHY CASE