ilmakerrosten

Ilmakerrosten, commonly translated as air layering, is a method of vegetative propagation used for woody plants. In this technique a new root system is developed on a segment of stem while it remains attached to the parent plant. The method is valued for producing mature‑stage plants with a head start on flowering and fruiting, and for propagating species that do not readily root from cuttings or are difficult to graft.

The process begins with selecting a healthy, pencil-thick branch. A ring of bark is removed from around the stem to expose the underlying cambium. Optionally, rooting hormone may be applied to the exposed surface. A moistened rooting medium such as sphagnum moss or coir is packed around the wound, and the material is wrapped with plastic film or a plastic bag to retain humidity. The wrap is secured and kept in a warm, bright but indirect light environment. Over several weeks to months, roots develop in the medium. Once a robust root system is evident, the new plant is separated from the parent by cutting below the rooted section and potted or planted in soil.

Advantages include the ability to propagate slow‑rooting or large‑diameter species and to preserve superior genotypes without seeds. Disadvantages include a technical skill requirement, a longer time to rooting, a variable success rate, and a susceptibility to rot if humidity is excessive or the wrapping is damaged.

Ilmakerrosten is commonly used in horticulture for fruit trees and decorative woody plants, as well as in propagation programs for rare or endangered cultivars.