I have been wanting to experiment with some air layering of a few plants in the garden and this — along with my 3D printer — might just get me moving. There are many commercial versions of air layering balls like this, so you can try it out without printing your own. It is a great way of getting something (new plants) for almost nothing. — Douglas

Octarooter Air Layer Root Baller by The_Redcoat – Thingiverse

Still confused about what this is? – It’s an enclosure to clone bushes or trees directly on the plant. Stuff it with soaked sphagnum moss or other rooting support, plus some rooting powder and clamp it onto a section of stem that has had the bark stripped and more rooting hormone applied. The foliage beyond the ball should be 12 to 24 inches in length. Wait 4-6 weeks (longer for some plants & seasons – look it up), for roots to grow inside the ball, then cut it off and plant your new clone.

I experimented with two balls made from gold PLA because it’s dark inside and reflects the heat/light. so might be less prone to drying out & overheating than black. I made another one with white ABS to compare – it’s fairly reflective but not completely dark inside.

Read Octarooter Air Layer Root Baller by The_Redcoat – Thingiverse

A few examples of commercial air layering pods

Related posts:

Photo: Amaryllis Autumn Berries via Instagram Captivating Cactus and Striking Succulents – 58 in a series – Mammillaria / Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona via Cactus Guy on Tumblr Winter Rose, Palm Springs, CA [Photo] If You’re New To Gardening, Start By Planting These 10 Plants via BuzzFeed