air layeringn.
/ˈɛː ˌleɪərɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈɛr ˌleɪərɪŋ/, /ˈɛr ˌlɛrɪŋ/ Horticulture.
A method of propagation of woody plants in which a wound made in the bark of a shoot is covered with a layer of rooting medium and wrapped to retain moisture, encouraging new roots to form before the shoot is severed from the parent plant. Cf. marcottage n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > propagation of plants > [noun] > by layering > air-layering
air layering1896
Chinese layering1900
1896 Times-Democrat (Lima, Ohio) 22 Sept. 6/2 A word as to the proper time for air-layering. As a rule this should be when the plant is in a stage of vigorous growth.
1900 Cycl. Amer. Hort.: E–M 894/2 In a conservatory, merely a ball of sphagnum bound around the branch with twine will serve an equally good purpose... This kind of propagation is known as air-layering.
1957 M. Free Plant Propag. vi. 183 In air-layering a suitable shoot is selected, the stem is wounded by removal of a cylinder of bark..where it is desired that roots should form.
1998 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 85 840/1 A new plant propagated by air layering is rather unbranched, mimicking the end of the single shoot that it represents.
Derivatives
ˈair ˌlayer v. (transitive) to propagate (a plant or stem) by air-layering.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > management of plants > propagation of plants > propagate [verb (transitive)] > methods of propagation
air layer1935
micropropagate1979
1935 Steven's Point (Wisc.) Daily Jrnl. 5 Jan. 7/1 It is possible to make dwarf plants of them [sc. draconias] by air-layering the tops.
1953 Science 13 Feb. 158/2 Mango shoots can be air-layered successfully from quite old mother plants.
2006 R. Alexander Ess. Garden Maintenance Workbk. v. 300/1 As well as outdoor garden plants, there are also many indoor plants that may be air-layered very successfully.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1896