Air Layering is the method of inducing roots on the stem while it is still attached to a plant and then cutting it once the roots are formed for further transplantation.
Air layering causes an above the ground section of the plant to form roots while it is still attached to the mother plant so that it can be removed and replanted. For air layering you need blade, cellotape and soil. Before using the knife sterilize it using detergent water.
Cutting the stem
About 0.5-1 inch below a node, make a shallow cut straight into the stem beginning at the front and going all the way around the entire stem in one continuous cut.
Leaving about 0.5-1 inch of clear stem above the bottom cut, make a second shallow cut straight into the stem beginning at the front and going all the way around the stem in one continuous cut. Carefully remove the bark by cutting up and down making sure not to cut into the wood of the stem.
Soil and plastic wrapping
Cut a piece of plastic to form a flat sheet about 12 inches by 18 inches. Fold out to form a flat sheet. Take a hand full of the wet soil & form it into a ball. Open up the ball and surround the stem with the dump wet soil so that the sliced stem is in the centre of the ball. Close soil around this stem.
Rub the plastic around the soil so its fully enclosed in the plastic. Take any loose soil sticking out the bottom & top back into the ball inside the plastic & put a twist tie around both ends of plastic wrap.
Watering and transplanting
Make sure that none of the soil is poking out. Return the plant to its usual growing location and monitor it weekly. Inject water to the soil everyday to avoid soil getting dry. It takes 1-3 months.
Don‘t separate the allied plant when the first root appears but do watch watering carefully this time new roots will absorb water from the soil. When roots are seen encircling the plastic, the allied plant is ready to be separated from the mother plant. Remove plastic from the root ball, cut the stem just below where the roots have emerged and plant it wherever you want.
