How to Air-Layer Trees and Vines with Just Water

In a previous article, I mentioned how one could easily propagate the Bougainvillea with just water. There was one query asking if other garden plants would respond positively with this approach of propagation. In particular, the inquirer asked about the Gumamela, which is the local term for Hibiscus.

It was rather coincidental that I air-layered a Hibiscus plant with this water technique and sent her photos of the Hibiscus plant I successfully propagated. She was elated to know as she wanted to grow her Hibiscus collections.

It seems that common garden woody plants like the bougainvilleas and hibiscus respond well to air-layering with water. But how about the plants that potentially grow bigger, like vines and trees?

So I put that to the test with a very mature vine of ours which is the Sandpaper Vine or Petrea volubilis, shown below.

Air-Layering Technique with Plain Water - Part 2

(This is the continuation from Part 1)

With the bottle now covered and secured, water and fertilize the plant as usual. Occasionally check the inside for water. Fill it up if the water level falls below 1 inch. Water loss may occur due to evaporation or spill-out when the plant branch is disturbed.

Wait until the roots will form.

Procedure Once the Roots Emerge

18. After 30 days, remove the foil cover of the bottle to peer on the inside of the plastic bottle. If the water in the bottle isn't to cloudy, you could actually notice some of the roots.
    
    
    
    
    

Air-Layering Technique with Plain Water

It was almost incredible to learn that some gardeners have professed to being able to propagate plants with just plain water. By this, I don't refer to dipping cuttings into a jar of water and then wait for some nubs to form which, hopefully, grow into roots.

That kind of propagation works, but seemingly to just a few kinds of plants - and sometimes, the mortality of seedlings is high.

Sandpaper Vine Propagation by Cuttings in Water

In a previous article, I wrote how the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis), also known as Queen's Wreath, Purple Wreath, Blue Bird Vine and Fleur de Dieu, can be propagated by using a simple method. That Sandpaper Vine propagation is by a humidity chamber.

Recently, I discovered another way to propagate the Sandpaper Vine almost by accident.

Intense Flowering of the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea Volubilis)

For a few days now, I've noticed that my Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis) also known as Queen's Wreath has been flowering more than usual. I've had this vine for five years now and have taken interest especially on the vine's first flowering three years ago. It is only now that neighbors even took notice on the masses of flowers bloomed. Some passersby inquired on how it has flowered this way.

Considerations for a Garden Site

In a previous article entitled, Adding Another Vine Layer, I discussed some basic components of garden design for a garden wall. Here, I'll discuss some other considerations with regards to a garden site.


The Impact of Color and Texture

From among all expressions, maybe painting and gardening have most in common. Each is worried about structure, color and space. The purpose of each is eyes of the beholder. What's more, one serves additionally for the other - color, mass, surface, volume, form, etc. However, when one expression is held against another, the most obvious correlation is regularly the one that notes contrasts rather than similarities. Of the considerable number of contrasts that present themselves, none appears to be more noteworthy than the clear canvas with which the painter must start and the anything other than clear site that faces the gardener.

Designer Adenium Stem Sculpture 3 - Four Petal Pattern

With the wildly successful project I recently made on the Twist Basket pattern, I'm sharing another design called the Four-Petal pattern.

The Four-Petal Pattern is so named because the design appears to be the four petals of a flower. The same technique may be used for a six-petal pattern.