A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2002 Dieffenbachia - Air Layering, think it worked, now what?!

Exactly 3 weeks ago tomorrow, I air layered my Dieffenbachia and I think it actually worked! I was surprised today to see what I think is a root (I am a novice gardener, can you tell?) poking out of the plastic wrap surrounding the moist soil... Now what?!

The root - I can only see one - is out of the plastic wrap so, I am assuming it is not receiving nutrients and needs to be replanted but, I am not sure if I should wait to see other roots or if one is enough.

I am really looking forward to turning this one beautiful stalk into three plants but, do not want to ruin it...

[ November 08, 2002: Message edited by: doubleoven ]

Three weeks is about the minimum amount of time required to have air-layered roots developed enough to allow severing the stem and potting up the air-layer. It would be safer if you could wait another week or so before doing this.

However, if the root is poking outside the plastic wrap, then that root is likely to die due to lack of moisture, not lack of nutrients. It also suggests that the plastic wrap is not properly sealed and the moist soil may have dried out. Thus, you may want to gently unwrap the plastic and inspect the soil for dampness. If it is dry, wet it. Then re-wrap the plastic, making sure that all of the soil and roots are sealed inside.