I've got a Ficus Benjamina with a first branch that is way too long in
proportion to the rest of the tree. Fortunately, there is a good location
to air layer that would not only shorten the branch appropriately, but give
me a good-sized starter as well. Now, I was planning on using Spaghnum moss
- but I recently read where the dried stuff doesn't work very well and that
I should use moss that is living or at least still green. The source is one
I would consider reliable, but I was just wondering as to whether other
folks have seen/heard/experienced the same thing. If so, where - exactly -
do I get still green Spahgnum moss? All that I've seen at the local
nurseries is the pre-packaged dried stuff.

Jeff Isom
Cleveland, OH / Sunset Zone 39

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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

I've got a Ficus Benjamina with a first branch that is way too
long in
proportion to the rest of the tree. Fortunately, there is a
good location
to air layer that would not only shorten the branch
appropriately, but give
me a good-sized starter as well. Now, I was planning on using
Spaghnum moss
- but I recently read where the dried stuff doesn't work very
well and that
I should use moss that is living or at least still green. The
source is one
I would consider reliable, but I was just wondering as to
whether other
folks have seen/heard/experienced the same thing. If so,
where - exactly -
do I get still green Spahgnum moss? All that I've seen at the
local
nurseries is the pre-packaged dried stuff.


Well, you could come harvest it from my swamp down here, like I
do. Or find a local shallow swamp. The whole
(non-ground-up-peat) form you get -- dry -- at a nursery will
work OK; it may even spring back to "life."

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Jerry Meislik++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

From my own experience I use my regular coarse Bonsai soil and it has
only failed me once in about 15 air layers. I must add that all my
air-layers were accomplished using the split pot and not the plastic. I
can then water with ease and keep a Persiano pick in the soil.

One other note: Never air layer a branch where there are no leaves
closeser to the trunk. Benjamina do not usually bud back very well and
you may lose the rest of the branch. If there are no leaves close to
the trunk you might have to start a program of pinching back new growth
to try and bud back closer to the trunk before reducing the branch

Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
http://bmee.net/rosner
http://www.jamesbaird.com/cgi-bin/Ja...d=00000068 48



Isom, Jeff (EM, PTL) wrote:

I've got a Ficus Benjamina with a first branch that is way too long in
proportion to the rest of the tree. Fortunately, there is a good location
to air layer that would not only shorten the branch appropriately, but give
me a good-sized starter as well. Now, I was planning on using Spaghnum moss
- but I recently read where the dried stuff doesn't work very well and that
I should use moss that is living or at least still green. The source is one
I would consider reliable, but I was just wondering as to whether other
folks have seen/heard/experienced the same thing. If so, where - exactly -
do I get still green Spahgnum moss? All that I've seen at the local
nurseries is the pre-packaged dried stuff.

Jeff Isom
Cleveland, OH / Sunset Zone 39




************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Jerry Meislik++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Jeff,
air-layers.
I've -always- used sphagnum moss from a package purchased at a local
nursery. I soak it in water for a day, then use it. Never had it fail me.
I heard the same thing as you, but like I said, it's never failed me. FWIW.
Regards,
Shelly Hurd Central CA - Sunset Zone 8-USDA Zone 9


"Isom, Jeff , EM, PTL" wrote:

I've got a Ficus Benjamina with a first branch that is way too long in
proportion to the rest of the tree. Fortunately, there is a good location
to air layer that would not only shorten the branch appropriately, but
give
me a good-sized starter as well. Now, I was planning on using Spaghnum
moss
- but I recently read where the dried stuff doesn't work very well and
that
I should use moss that is living or at least still green. The source is
one
I would consider reliable, but I was just wondering as to whether other
folks have seen/heard/experienced the same thing. If so, where -
exactly -
do I get still green Spahgnum moss? All that I've seen at the local
nurseries is the pre-packaged dried stuff.

Jeff Isom
Cleveland, OH / Sunset Zone 39