61. Air Layering Pods

One year later, did they work?

In February of 2023, I ordered Air Layering Propagation Pods from Amazon.

MIIIM Air Layering Propagation Kit with Zip Ties

10-pack for $15

They go by many names: Reusable Half Transparent Grafting Ball, Air Layering Pods Clear, Plant Rooting Grafting Box for Fast Propagation Plants.

I call them Air Layering Propagation Pods.

I had tried air layering the year before with DIY moss and plastic wrap around vine maple trees, and had no luck.

Finding the Pods

One year after putting the pods to work, I had one problem. I could not remember where I had used them on. So my first step was a scavenger hunt around the property to find all ten pods.

Euonymus: two

Laurel: four

Vine Maple: four

Opening the Easter Eggs

Euonymus: success rate 1/4 out of 2

Maybe there is the tiniest root visible, but these mostly looks like a dud. I stuck them in pots anyway, since, why not. Let’s see what happens.

Laurel: success rate 2 out of 4

The two successful root balls got upgraded to pots. The two that did not have roots, did have bugs in them, yuk!

I felt bad just throwing out the two failed Laurels, so I took some small cuttings and stuck them in a pot.

Vine Maple: success rate 1 1/2 out of 4

I see a root on one of the cuttings. The second one was totally dead. Number three and four also look like duds, but maybe there is hope, there is a bit of hard looking crusty stuff on number four, as thought roots were just about pop out.

Here is the dead branch, I did not even need to open the pod to know that it was not going to have roots.

Here are the three hopefuls.

The next step is to rinse the pods and re-apply. Even though the success rate was relatively low, the ease of use is really high. Set it and forget it for a year and get a few plants out of it, not bad.