Hi Tia, There must be enough roots in the pot/bog that the roots are growing in to support the top portion of the tree which you are severing from the trunk. This may be hard to judge if your new to bonsai and/or new to airlayers, so I suggest that even in your nice zone 9 climate (I am a chilly zone 5 and have much zone envy! :) that you still wait at least another 1 1/2-2 months. Its always safe to cut the off-spring from the parent when the bag/pot is FULL of roots. Right now they may just be visible because roots naturally grow outward, so they hit the side of the bag or pot and grow down (or up sometimes). I am sure that behind those roots is a lot of soil that needs to be filled with roots before you make the cut. You gotta have lots of patience with airlayers...its almost impossible (with excpetions of course!) to wait too long, but very easy to kill the new tree and jump on it too quick. I airlayer about 12-15 trees minimum a year. I am airlayering a trident with a 8 inch trunk...it already has one year under its belt, but not enough roots. After this season, in the fall, I will severe the tree from the parent. Just my suggestions... Matt Ouwinga P.S. did you see my post a few weeks back of the process of severing a trident maple airlayer with 4 inch trunk from the parent stock?

Hey now, there'll be no advertising or soliciting on this forum! ;) You better be careful Token you might have uninvited guests coming to check out your not so "slim pickings". By the way, did you read some of their other experiments? These people apparently have way to much time on their hands. Maybe they should try WSing.

Oh I am so bummed...Any way of holding the swap time at 1:00pm and everyone can eat first. I have to work until 12:00 and then drive down from Lonsdale. I really want to come.

Make your first cut about where the yellow line is with a clean sharp knife. If there is any brown or rotted areas keep cutting until you see clean flesh. Let the cactus callus over in a dry shady area for a couple weeks and then repot in a fast draining mix. A good starter mix is 60% rinsed perlite or pumice and 40% cactus mix. No water till roots form, which could take a month+. Also no strong sun till roots form just bright filtered light. Once roots have grown you can water and slowly acclimate to stronger light. Goodluck;).