Well I transplanted it into the ground today, I will try the air layers next week since I was going to pinch the tips anyway what the heck. Any opinions if I should cut the bark off at the air layers or leave it on?

You can airlayer the top portion yes.

When i used to airlayer i simply kept the container mixture around airlayer damp and covered with foil and did not do anything to the bark of it.

Martin

I see that there are 4 liders. I would try different methods . Just leave the air layer long so that it develops strong roots. There are good video on YouTube for example New England Gardening, Tom makes very good video. Best of luck .

I did one trunk with 1" bark removed, one nothing done to the bark and one with half the bark removed (none with rooting hormone). I cut off some leaves but left some on to offer some shade should I cut off the extra laterals above the air layer so I only have the mail trunk?

I would not and dont tuch it for at least 5 weeks dont even look at the progress ! ! !

Yes they look fine just once in a while check them as you do not want the cup mixture to dry out if your in a hot area.

Martin

Thanks, I'm in Atlanta Georgia and it gets really hot I figure if need be I can use a meat injector to get some water inside without disturbing to much since I now it will dry out if I don't.

Catfishhoward that is a great way to give it some water, had an old turkey baster that was used on ours at the time and matter of fact still in shed if ever needed.

Martin

Well i'm done, ended up doing some more air layering today but I went to the Dollar Store and bought some plastic containers which made it a lot easier to do (pics below) and I used Root Farm Soil Less Growing Media from Lowes ( coco coir and perlite). I think root cuttings are going to be easier to do because I think the air layers are going to dry up in this heat in Atlanta, I'll check them in 3 days and water if need be. Anyone else in the South done this? if so how often did you have to water? I hope the ones I didn't cut the bark off root because I think there less likely to dry up.

What kind of containers are those?

Vladimir, I bought them from the local Dollar Store. Just walked around looking for anything I could use that I could either cut or melt. I just heated up a screw driver and made the hole by melting the plastic the same diameter as the branch. The mini bowls are a hard plastic and should last a long time, the sure fresh bowls are just cheap tupperware.

Update as of 5-27-17:

Cut 1" all around the branch - Has worked great.

Cut 1" half around the branch - Has worked okay.

No cut around the branch - Has not worked.

I injected water once a week. Top foliage on all 3 are in good condition.

Final Update: The ones I didn't cut an 1" around the branch have rooted but still need a couple more weeks so from now on I will cut the 1" around.

Will leaves and branches form below the air layering where there are none now?

It should branch out nicely below the air layer, as long as their is one or more viable nodes left. Plenty of space was left below these air layers. I've pinched back a fig that was growing straight up, it has responded by producing numerous branches lower down.

"Vladimir (Zone 6a Massachusetts)(6a)

Will leaves and branches form below the air layering where there are none now?"

Most of the branches I did a air layer on had no new green growth when I started but on all the one I cut the 1" off bark off all have new growth now. The ones I didn't cut, where I just put the dirt directly on the bark didn't root as fast and so far no growth below so from now on I will cut the 1" around the bark.

nice I need to do a few trees, thinking I can get a few rooted in about a months time, great pics thanks ...... :0)