upside down grafting

[Graydon]

Chris, et. al.-

What time of year do you start your grafting? Gary Wood & Mike Hagedorn recommend fall (locally defined as "when the leaves fall off your maple trees" by Gary), specifically discussing grafting black pine onto ponderosa. Obviously green house environment through the winter is required. What is recommended for your area(s)?

I have had success 2 times a year. One is dead of summer (read dog days of August here in Florida) and the other is late winter when we actually get our coldest days (early ish February).

I'm guessing on this part -> but I believe I may have success most of the year in Florida as long as I can keep stuff in mostly shade and under a good mist to keep the tender bits from drying. I never wrap or tent the bud. As Chris pointed out I would aim to get off the bus one stop before the candles begin to change and harvest scion then.

I too have a frankenstein tree I have been planning for uncountable grafts in as many methods as I can find. I must try the thread graft as Tom illustrated.

Also - anyone ever try a grafting chisel? I picked one up for use and in theory it looks pretty cool. Fragile but cool.

Thanks all!

 

[Tachigi]

I never wrap or tent the bud.

Hi Graydon, This is interesting to me and I'm drawing a lot of conclusions. Is it because of your location, Florida humidity and all? That you have a mist going? Or do you have some dark grafting secret that you wish to share?

This fascinates me because I have never had a bud graft take with out putting some moist sphag in a tent with the union.

 

[Graydon]

Hi Graydon, This is interesting to me and I'm drawing a lot of conclusions. Is it because of your location, Florida humidity and all? That you have a mist going? Or do you have some dark grafting secret that you wish to share?

This fascinates me because I have never had a bud graft take with out putting some moist sphag in a tent with the union.

Beats me. No secret. No sealing other than tape. I guess it may be the humidity. Could be the sheltered area I place them. Could be steady afternoon rains for the summer grafts. I do nothing special but mist by hand several times a day. I will have a real mist area for this winter's grafts and I can only hope to not mess up with the change.

I would say a good mix of stupidity and dumb luck.

 

[Chris Johnston]

Beats me. No secret. No sealing other than tape. I guess it may be the humidity. Could be the sheltered area I place them. Could be steady afternoon rains for the summer grafts. I do nothing special but mist by hand several times a day. I will have a real mist area for this winter's grafts and I can only hope to not mess up with the change.

I would say a good mix of stupidity and dumb luck.

My guess would be a mix of all of the above minus the last two. Summer grafting here in Kansas would likely fail no matter how protected, LOL.