crownlayering

Crown layering, also known as marcottage, is a horticultural propagation technique used to produce new plants from woody stems of a parent plant. It is distinct from ground layering, as the rooting process occurs on a stem that is still attached to the parent plant, but is elevated above the ground. This method is particularly useful for plants that are difficult to root from cuttings or those with long, trailing branches.

The process involves selecting a healthy, vigorous stem that is at least one year old. A section of the stem, typically a few inches long, is girdled by carefully removing a ring of bark about one to two times the diameter of the stem. The exposed wood is then covered with a moist rooting medium, such as sphagnum moss or a peat-based mix. This medium is usually enclosed within a plastic sleeve or a similar material to retain moisture.

Once roots have developed within the moist medium, which can take several weeks to months depending on the plant species and environmental conditions, the stem is severed below the newly formed root ball. The rooted portion is then carefully separated from the parent plant and potted into its own container, where it can continue to grow as an independent plant. Crown layering is an effective method for propagating a variety of ornamental shrubs and trees, allowing gardeners to create genetic duplicates of desirable parent plants.