Make Genetically Identical (FIG) Trees -- Air Layering Method

Charles Malki, Biologist & Plant Expert from ivorganics.com/ discusses how to propagate trees, specifically a fig tree in this video, using the air layering method.
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[@stoaton]

one of the best plant tutorials i've watched in years. thanks for all the great info!

[@AS-zn2pz]

Hi from UK. Today you made my day. I have a fig tree which is difficult to-grow and keep in UK being different weather than USA , yet with the help of your video ( perfect teacher by the way) now I can do this maintenance. Thank you !

[@silverfoxes65]

I just watched this video again and I keep getting more really useful information. Thanks again for putting these up.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Richard, Thank you for the compliment and great to hear from you! I was just thinking about you this week and those fig cuttings... which I'll get out to you early next week. My trees are all still dormant.... Also, your cuttings you shared have done GREAT! Most have grown by several inches indoors... The grafting video will begin once the figs outside come out of hibernation... Another few more weeks... hopefully! :-) Have a great week! Charles

[@SergeShammas]

Good job Charles, couldn't have done it better myself. Very informative and to the point.

[@beebob1279]

Awesome. What's the difference between air layering and just cutting the piece and putting it in prepared soil? Once you remove the bark isn't basically separated from the original tree. There is no longer any nutritional support from the parent plant. I don't really get the advantage of this whole technique. Oh, Can this be done with Apple Trees, Peach Trees, pear Trees, etc?

[@denisefriese7522]

Hi Charles! Met you at your talk to WLA CRFG group. Glad to see you are doing your own videos. So refreshing to see a U-tube video by an intelligent, educated person! Great info and love all the extra tips. Have a problem with borers at a client's house. Started in a Nectarine tree (removed) but has moved to the roses (they have over 150 roses) . The borer is huge, white, accordion shaped and makes very large holes near the base of the plant and rootstock. Would your product help? Would I paint the whole plant? This is an all organic property so only systemic I know is Iminicloprid but dont want to kill the bees. Used it last winter and removed all flowers for a few months. It helped but the roses are looking bad again and dont want to repeat it. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[@louispbauer]

I just subscribed to your site and wanted to say thanks for all the good information. You are very informative, and helpful and full of information.

[@cakennedy2009]

How did the air layer end up doing once you had it potted? I am new to air layering and most videos I've seen show people trimming most of the leaves back so I was really surprised to see you leave all those big leaves on the air layer! I started my first air layer a month ago and I may refrain from cutting any leaves back if your plant did ok. Great video! I just subscribed to your channel!

[@NYNYTVNYC]

Thanks for the info, you explained a plant I love growing in an excellent scientific way along with your methods....Very practical resources utilized! GREAT & thanks for the tips.....

[@dymphwouters8449]

Hi Charles, It is good to get info from someone with a biological bakground. You givecthe right amount of tree ‘chemistry’ along with the practical side. I very much like the combination, an think it is important to know why to do things in a certain way. I have successfully airlayered one of our fig trees, and cut the branch after 10 weeks. Put it in a pot as per your advice. My question: should I worry because the leaves still hang down after 3 days? Or is this just the temporary result of the branch having been cut from the tree? It is quite hot here at the moment, so we put the new cutting inside to avoid high temp./direct sunlight. Would appreciate your expert feedback. Kind regards, Dymph

[@jamesnguyen1101]

Great video and best air layering videos I've seen by far.

[@IVOrganic]

Thank you sooooo much James!!! :-) Charles

[@pamigill207]

Can you please a video on Hardy Edgeworthia Chrysantha and how to grow cutting No one has done one so far Thank you

[@TanvirHossen-q8o]

Thanks for online class 😊

[@THKouka]

Hello there.. I am Tarek from Greece and I just started working on my family's fig farm. I have started an experiment with air layering on two fig shoots in late may and I moved them into pots 3 days ago. The process was very similar to what you have done and the rooting was amazing, the soil was loaded with roots yet when I moved the plants to pots they started withering and dying. Do you have any advice. The shoots were taken from young branches and they are just less than a meter long, the had lots of leaves.

[@Nunya454]

Is it necessary to completely remove the cadmium layer, many other videos claim this is important to prevent regeneration of cadmium/bark. If this is true , what is the advantage over just rooting a cutting. Thanks for giving the why to in your advice.

[@racebiketuner]

I've never been able to find any papers published in peer-reviewed journals that show vitamin B1 helps with root growth and/or transplanting. If you know of any please post links.

[@christinan3983]

Can you re-use the moss, or would in contaminate future plants?

[@andrewbarrett9347]

Hey Charles do you recommend covering the fig tree after potting to capture the humidity or let them grow with ambient temperature on the window sill. I used cutting from another tree in cups of vermiculite and perlite to grow roots . Winter is approaching Philadelphia and I would love to have this healthy fig tree next spring on my patio ...

[@samuelhmullins2170]

The word Air-Layering overworks my guesser. Wouldn't Limb-Rooting be precise and retain sounding magical?

[@katzgarden636]

Thank you for such a great video. A lot of detailed information, very well explained.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Kathy Ramos, I am glad you enjoyed this educational gardening tip! :) And THANK YOU for taking the time to write me-- Very much appreciated! Charles :)

[@gregbrooks9546]

When is the best time of the year to air layer your figs like you have done in this video. I have 2 fig trees and want more.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Greg, Right now! The best time to air layer is when the plants are most active, which is spring, summer & early fall. The sooner you start, the sooner you will enjoy rooting (typically a 6-10 week process) and the sooner the plant will get established before winter dormancy. Keep me posted on your successes! Charles :-)

[@hakeem091]

I was wondering if you could talk about cloning or air layering pomegranate and mulberry trees. I like the video on the fig tree

[@petrospetros5835]

Mulberries are very easy to air layer. Use the same techniques. It should work.

[@joemercieca4794]

Charles, firstly thank you for the air layering videos. I have a beautiful Lisbon lemon tree. I gave it the air layering treatment on January 29 2018. End of the 2nd month of summer in Australia. It has finally developed sufficient roots after almost 4 months. June will be winter in Australia. I'm planning to cut it from the tree before the start of winter. I'm hoping to keep it inside at night, outside on sunny days and in a reasonably well lit sunny room on cold days. Is this suitable care or do you have any better suggestions? Thanks so much PS: Some research recommends the new plant must be set in the shade and away from drafts for at least two weeks to allow the roots to become accustomed to the new medium. It therefore follows that initially at least, you treat them like cuttings. Like cuttings they would also be shallow rooted for some time before being properly established. PPS: l've also pruned the tree so it is more symmetrical allowing the tree to be better balanced relative to the roots and reduce its water loss while roots are becoming established. PPPS: I have filed down 3 minor galls caused by gall wasp. This reveals small holes where the gall wasp larvae reside. A small piece of wire gouged into this area is used to destroy them. Enough said. I just now will wait till spring to plant

[@mattia1551]

Hi Thanks for your teaching us it is very good ‎General knowledge about air layering but I would ask you in which month you do air layering

[@nickl.657]

Hello Charles. Thanks for all you do. I learn a lot from your video. I have a question to ask, when is the best time/season to repot fruit trees especially fig tree? I live in zone 6a. Thank you!

[@forageforage3520]

Waste not Want not! Nutrition Benefits of Fig Leaves. ... Although these large leaves do serve as adequate body coverings, they can also be transformed into a delectable dish. In fact, fig leaves are not only edible, but also provide various health benefits when consumed.

[@vinny6396]

I have 3 really big fig trees growing in containers I want to know when is the best time to repot and prune the root ball

[@gregbrooks9546]

Charles, I guess I will have to sacrifice all my figs if I do the air layering and then 10 weeks later cut the whole top off right.

[@denisefriese7522]

No! The fig tree will grow new branches below where you cut the top off. It's just like trimming it.

[@Jerryp1]

I live in Zone 6, when is the best time to air-layer figs? Before they wake up? Or just after? Or when growing vigorously?

[@VianneyCreates]

He answered this in the video...best to begin as they are waking up up until weeks before going dormant.

[@forageforage3520]

Crazy awesome video! Charles.. as you explained in the video, that by disrupting the flow of cytokinin hormones from the bottom and thus increasing the flow of Auxins from the top to induce root development... Is this true with most plants?

[@matthewmorgan24]

Hello Charles, great video and information. Do you use a rooting hormone comprised of indoleacetic acid or Naphthylacetic acid when doing air layering on figs? Also, is it necessary to apply rooting hormone to the lower node of the air layer?

[@12859SC]

This was freakin amazing!!!!! 😍😍😍😍 I had to call my husband at work and tell him “I think I found a way we can take our favorite fig tree with us when we move 🤗. We have a desert king fig tree here in Texas and they are hard to find. I want to dig the one we have up and take it with us buts it’s rather large with a more then 20 year root system. I just need to know if it’s too late to air-root now (it’s now August ) and I’ve just about harvest all the figs we could get starting July 1at until last 2nd week in August.

[@introtwerp]

I would do it anytime

[@silverfoxes65]

Thanks Charles for the informative video on air layering figs. I will give it a try. I did want to weigh in on some confusion regarding the viability of air layering and also growing figs from cutting. I did not notice a tap root on any of my figs, but I did notice an extensive and very aggressive root system. So I decided to research a little deeper. It turns out that edible fig trees do not have a tap root, but they do have an extensive root system that can range as far as 3 times the diameter of the drip rim of the plant. They do not recommend planting a fig within 35 feet of a clay sewer pipe, a piece of information that will certainly save me heart aches. The article I found, www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1145/ANR-1145.pdf is quite well written and should help clear up the root system issue. It also has a fairly extensive list of fig varieties that you might want to grow. Hopefully this helps to make people more comfortable about planting figs grown from cuttings or air layers. Both systems should be trusted.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Richard Bertram, I had a meeting with a farmer yesterday who said that many types of trees are only propagated by cuttings. Air-layering is less common because it takes time and more materials to accomplish; however for trees that do not root by cutting, air-layering typically can. Thank you so much for sharing that informative article relating to fig care, varieties and identifying solutions to common problems. Thank you! :) Charles

[@viperh9948]

Charles, I really appreciate the knowledge to provide on trees and plants. Thank you! Is there a particular season to or not to air layer? I am just east of San Fran and my fig tree is still green , but will yellow and drop it's leaves soon. Can this be done now?

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Sanyi H. Thank you for the compliment! :) I just returned from Walnut Creek, about 30 miles east of you, for Thanksgiving break... And the fig trees there are also mostly green and just starting to turn yellow in some places. The best time for air layering would be spring through early fall. However, you can start your cuttings indoors... as I have just started mine for what will be developed plants for potting or in-ground plantings by spring time. Here is the link to that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gH7MaYRsZ62sbLs Let me know if you have any other questions! Charles :)

[@maceoaowensjr5904]

I really enjoy your videos, can you do one about getting rid of leaf miners I would really like that.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Maceo, Thank you for the compliment! I published a video 3 months ago titled: Citrus Leaf Minor | Organic Choices: (1) Neem Oil (2) Spinosad (3) IV Organic HERE IS THE LINK: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2e5lYp3hc6BnrM If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Charles :)

[@carolparrish194]

Can the IV Organic 3 in 1 Plant Guard be used on dwarf Bing Cherry trees? The barks splits and beetles can enter. If so, when is the best time ?. I live in Kentucky where it gets cold in the winter months.

[@brandyspencer8259]

I live in Florida I want to air layer a fig tree

[@montraydavis]

Why are you so freaking handsome?! xD On a serious note though, will the fig really grow as well as the parent plant if the parent plant is grafted to a known well producing Fig rootstock. I feel like a bunch of people leave this information out. What is your opinion on this?

[@kellyc2425]

Very good info! Thank you. But I gotta ask... How do you garden in dress shoes? Ouch, man! My feet hurt just watching!

[@Josegonzalez-kk3dm]

Hello Charles, why is it so hard to air layer avovado trees? Do you have to leave it on longer than a fig or citrus tree??

[@montraydavis]

I am so hesitant to air-layer my Avocados because everyone keeps saying they are hard!! :( I may have to just try and find out myself though.

[@mubashirdilawar1741]

Does cuttings give the same results.....

[@alboggs7561]

I want a to a pear tree and apple tree they in bloom now will not hurt them now to do it

[@ElectricBoogaloo007]

4:58 Why not just leave the remaining stem on it so more roots can grow out of it when you plant it?

[@leong7948]

that excess stem will rot. so it's best to cut it off.

[@jamesnguyen1101]

When is the best time to air layer? I'm from New Jersey.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello James Nguyen, The best time is when the plant(s) are active; Spring through Fall. Keep me posted on your gardening successes! And I hope to do a garden video when I visit New Jersey sometime this Summer! :-) Charles

[@Marcosworld77]

can you do this with Peach trees?

[@michelinsarkpermaculture2689]

Ithought citrus fruit would only produce if you geow from seed. I was told the tree wont fruit when air layering citrus???

[@jthomason20]

willow leaves and stems are a natural rooting hormone

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Jthomason20, That's true! Thank you for sharing! :-) Charles

[@mohammadnazim5164]

Brother can you send me fig 7 inches cutting in india

[@VinnyChirayil]

Hi Charles, I know your method of air layering is convenient but for the best root system of the cuttings, have a look at "A Couple Air Layers" on Yenlings Bonsai dot com site, specially the one using the blue colander. The air pruning feature of it gives far superior roots than the regular containers. Link given in my next comment.

[@VinnyChirayil]

The link given below will be automatically marked as spam by youtube. Hence, you can see it when you login via laptop / desktop. You can approve it if you wish to share it publicly.

[@VinnyChirayil]

www.yenlingbonsai.com/2014/02/12/a-couple-air-layers/

[@IVOrganic]

Thank you for sharing Vinny! :) Charles

[@gjmel]

Vinny Chirayil s

[@evelynsotomayor8361]

Vinny Chirayil

[@crazyinlove4082]

can I do this on my grandfather mango tree?

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Ana Macias, Absolutely! Keep me posted on your gardening successes! :-) Charles

[@crazyinlove4082]

IV Organic I sure will :)

[@thomasthurman2723]

What if........Can they be grafted? Will the roses smell like potatoes? Or will the potatoes have the taste of a rose? Or even will they be poisonous? ... Just a what if... Not that it might happen but what if it could or did happen!? (Open for anyone to comment) What if ... (Oh boy) ... You put the rose clipping in the potato and put it in the ground and the clipping grows up to a bush or whatever kinda clipping it'll grow up to be ... And at the other end of the clipping grows potatoes in the ground!? :-D

[@cartersgarden7767]

You forgot to add the oils.

[@mikewhite2230]

The lemon tree you are showing us in the pot in front of you that you say is the successful air layer is a different one to the one you show in your lemon air layering video previously!!!!! I had my suspicions as the air layer you cut off and planted was far too vigorous for the small roots it had!!!!!!!!! Compare the vids people totally different lemon plants are potted!! I air ayer lemon fig and olive myself and know for a fact the roots your airlayers have could only support a stem and few small leaves!!

[@leilanik3333]

kadota figs along with most in the United state's do not have viable seeds. They never get pollinated by the fig wasp. when you talked about its seeds and planting them? Someone is going to try and grow them from seed.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Alexa, Thank you so much for sharing-- You are correct in that most figs do not have viable seeds as breeders have breed varieties that are not dependent on the fig wasp for pollination. However, even the Janice Seed-Less Kadota Fig has some viable seeds; in fact, most figs have at least some viable seeds. I have always had baby figs germinate from seeds that are scattered by the birds that consume the hardest to reach figs. In fact, here is a video that we published a few months ago showing a seedling at the bast the of a fig tree. You can skip forward to 7:30 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpyxYZmGrZ54pNU Thank you so much for writing me and making the point that most figs are mostly seedless... what appears to be seeds are mostly aborted attempts to form a true seed, a scientific concept known as parthenocarpy. I will be sure to further clarify on future fig videos... and there is sure to more in the the later winter/ early spring. Thanks again for sharing! :) Charles

[@tortaboy]

Why are you using your fingers to apply rooting powder and your IV organic mixture? You've not only passed bacteria to your plants, but you've contaminated the remaining mixture in each bottle. What credible University would ever recommend contaminating material with bacteria as you have demonstrated? What you've done is the equivalent of licking a spoon and putting it back in the pot while teaching a cooking class.

[@IVOrganic]

Hello Tortaboy, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You are right about not being sterile. I were gloves 99% of the time.... and this video was the 1st time I ever touched rooting hormone without gloves. A small paint brush would have been ideal. I would not recommend anyone to touch rooting hormone without protection. Thank you for your feedback! Charles :)

[@pattihayden8100]

Slow down! I can't understand you

[@kervilou5905]

we can do, without buy anything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@marshabalderrama8903]

IV Organics is kipping my trees from ants also. I love it!