Grafting supports

[Nick]

Thought this deserved a new thread.

For stocks > 5mm diameter, I use double sided tape (1" lengths) on the 4 sides of the stock pot. I then stretch 2 strips of ladies tights material over the top of the stock and press it into the tape. I then put an elastic band, or some sellotape round the pot, as ocassionally, the tight material detaches itself from the tape.

For seedlings, i use two section of plant label stuck together, so as to give a flexible joint. One end has varying amounts of money (er - that would be coins) attached to it, to act as a weight.

A bit of a faff, but it works well for me!

Nick

[Phil_SK]

The only grafting I've ever been successful at is with seedlings on Pereskiopsis. I should qualify my 100% success rate by mentioning that I've only done it twice . I used the cut-off corner of a transparent polythene bag with a couple of pennies stuck to it to weigh it down.

[DaveW]

With seedlings grafts match head size when I used to do them they were just slightly pressed on with no further pressure applied in the form of bands. For larger scions over say 3/8" diameter you probably will need some method of pressure.

I have seen grafting stands made for smaller scions which were just a wooden base the pot stood on with an upright that had various notches for different heights cut in which just loosely held the end an approximately 3" x 1" x 1/8" thick piece of wood or glass that simply rested on the top of the scion, hinging on the stand and applying a little weight or pressure to it until it united. The slight weight of the glass or timber being all that was needed to hold the union until it knitted

DaveW