Air Layering (Gootee): In air layering, roots are formed on an aerial branch. The rooting medium (moss grass) is tied to the branch to obtain roots. Sphagnum moss is the best rooting medium for aerial layering as it retains a large amount of water from the root beginning and till the root development. eg. Croton, ficus, fig, guava, phalsa, pomegranate.

Material Required

• Grafting Knife
• Secature
• Plant Material
• Sphagnum moss
• Polythene sheet

Procedure: Select a healthy branch of the previous season’s growth. Completely remove a strip of bark 2 to 3.5 cm wide from just below a node at a point 15 to 30 cm behind the tip of the branch. To retard wound healing, lightly scrape the exposed surface to remove the phloem or cambium completely. To induce rapid rooting in hard-to-root species, apply the recommended growth regulator to the cut. Cover the cut part with a moist propagation medium (sphagnum moss).

  Tie the medium around the cut part using a polyethylene sheet. The tying must be correct so that water cannot enter the treated part. After some time after observing the fully developed roots from the transparent polythene sheet, detach the rooted cutting and transplant it appropriately.