Air-layering propagation: persimmon cuttings - experiment.

17 years ago

Hi,

I hope to be able to propagate American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.) using the technique of 'air-layering'. Despite the said difficulty (?practical impossibility) of rooting softwood/greenwood cuttings and hardwood cuttings alike, I believe that air-layering would work reliably. If it does, I'll move on to common/northern pawpaw (Asimina triloba L.).

EVIDENCE that this technique will work: I received a containerized, grafted American persimmon from a nursery and it nearly seems certain that the base of the wild American persimmon rootstock bellow the graft was buried under 3" of soil accidentally and this caused, as far as I can tell, the trunk of the rootstock to put forth fine root hairs that looked recent. Being concerned that this was girdling the sapling - that the fine root hairs would not increasingly establish and that the tree would become girdled by the soil, I removed the excess 3" of soil so that only what appears to be the original, dedicated root-system would be covered with soil.

Now, what was an ambiguous region: half root-system/half root-stock stem, is simply the root-stock's stem only.

So, I'm going to attempt to air-layer propagate one of the greenwood branches of an American persimmon tree (starting now: August; zone 6b).

I'll use a powdered rooting hormone and sphagnum moss soaked in willow water (not saturated before applying) and see what happens...

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Steve

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
17 years ago
Taken from the link below...Persimmon is dioecious. Each tree produces either male or female flowers. If growing the persimmon for its fruit both male and female trees must be planted.

Do you know what sex the tree is that you got at the nursery?
Do you know the sex of the tree you are air layering? I'm assuming you are wanting to grow them for the fruit and not just as an ornamental tree.

Good luck with your air layering. I have read of it and wanted to try it on several things, but just haven't gotten around to it.

I have persimmons growing wild that produce. There are about 5 trees and they are all planted in a clump, right next to one another. If you think you might be interested in additionally growing some from seed, just give me a holler in late Oct, or early Nov before the critters get them all.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Grow an American Persimmon Tree
tucsonken
14 years ago
I'm looking for info on persimmon propagation and wondered how the air layering experiment worked (or didn't). Any chance of a follow-up?
Related Professionals
Moline Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Morgan City Landscape Contractors · Texarkana Landscape Contractors · Torrington Landscape Contractors · Gary Landscape Contractors · Pittsburgh Landscape Contractors · Palm Desert Landscape Contractors · Selma Architects & Building Designers · Ashland Architects & Building Designers · Monroe Architects & Building Designers · Saint Joseph Architects & Building Designers · Clarksdale Architects & Building Designers · Green Bay Architects & Building Designers · Jackson Architects & Building Designers · London Architects & Building Designers
hcp28
14 years ago
My dad recently invented a system for air propagation via layering right on the tree. So far he's had a 100% success rate, although he's in zone 2 so he can still propagate for the next few weeks. It's a patented design and I'm pretty sure they started online sales not too long ago. I'm currently in New York and haven't seen them in person but there are a few videos online about it. Just do a search for Air Propagator for it. There are some DIY solutions but nothing as sturdy and reusable.
FshyPlnts
14 years ago
Hey-
I have done a number of Air Layering projects on different evergreens and some other plants. Let us know how it works out for you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Envi Sci and FshyPlnts