DQ Farm (est. 1991)

We generally have good root formation in around 30 to 45 days for lemon trees and other limau-type trees.

 

Saw off, and dap some iodine on the cut

Wrap vermicast around the root ball

Plant in a polybag with a light, friable and loose soil mix.  We like to add some sand and vermicast to our farm soil.  Loose, light soil will encourage the roots to grow deeper.

Cover the plant with a plastic bag to prevent drying out.  Remove when new leaves and branch shoots  are noticeable.  Once the new leaves and shoots are established, plant to soil.

The area where we are planting these citruses have heavy laterite soil.  We generally dig a hole and then mix the laterite with sand and compost.

We mix the laterite with sand and vermicast or compost

Place the plant half inside the hole

A planted marcotted guava

We generally place an used tire over the spot and top up the soil mix as need be.  The tire reduces weeds, and prevent leachate of compost and vermicast.

 

Support the young tree.  Marcotted trees tend to be shallow rooted and care must be taken during windy monsoon seasons.

5 year old marcotted lemon tree falling over after a night of heavy rain and strong winds.  Marcotted trees have no tap root so should be supported even when matured in windy zones.

Marcotting or air layering is used in our farm to propagate fruit trees such as limau nipis, limau purut and lemon.  We also use it to increase the numbers of any endangered tree we come across.

Matured lemon tree from marcotting

 We have high success rates with the following method:

Have a clean cut on the chosen branch from the side of the tree facing the morning sun

Dusting with rooting powder helps speed up the process

Wrap with areca nut fiber that has been pre-soaked for an hour or so with boiled water

Wrap well with cling wrap

Finally wrap with aluminum foil

Keep the areca nut fiber continuously moist by injecting in boiled water once a week.  Use a syringe.  Inspect for root formation progress once a month.

Making areca nut fiber is easy.

Areca Palm ( areca catechu ) at the farm

 

Ripe areca nuts

Dry areca nuts

Peel open to expose the fiber

Fine areca nut fiber 

Sterilise the fiber by soaking in a light iodine solution for an hour and then sun drying.  The fiber will keep for months.  The fiber can also be used to make ropes, be woven, etc. Remember to soak thoroughly when using for marcotting.

 Next, how to poly bag it, and how to plant it in Marcotting II.