|
Post by mikkel on Mar 9, 2020 11:16:42 GMT -5
What is the best method for Microcitrus ? I have only tiny twigs. No idea how to do best.
|
|
|
Post by david on Mar 9, 2020 11:38:33 GMT -5
When you speak of micrografting citrus.....you are speaking og grafting done under a microscope. A large undertaking and a tediou process tbat requires expensive equipment. Not a thing for the small grower or backyard enthusiast. You can graft very small rootstock and scions/buds. Takes a little more time and care but can be done. I have grafted very small rootstock with small....even tiny scions/buds. Try your hand at grafting small....will surprise you. When grafting tutorials and speakers state size limits on grafting wood it is usuall because the sizes stated make it easier to get the cutting and handling done.....leading to a grafting success.....does not dictate that it can not be done with smaller wood.
|
|
lia
Junior Member
Posts: 54
|
Post by lia on Mar 9, 2020 16:12:18 GMT -5
What is the best method for Microcitrus ? I have only tiny twigs. No idea how to do best.
When you say microcitrus, do you mean Citrus australasica? If so, I noticed that tbudding works best.
|
|
|
Post by Laaz on Mar 9, 2020 17:00:03 GMT -5
Cleft, bark or T-budding will all work well.
|
|
|
Post by mikkel on Mar 10, 2020 2:21:33 GMT -5
Yes i meant australian Citrus. I have several species to graft.
The branches have a diameter of only 1 mm (0.039 inches). There is no other option than to make a clean, diagonal cut on the budwood. Simply too tiny. But what is the best way to attach to the rootstock?
|
|
|
Post by Laaz on Mar 10, 2020 5:00:10 GMT -5
If the buds are too small, cleft graft to a smaller rootstock.
|
|
|
Post by Sylvain on Mar 10, 2020 6:25:47 GMT -5
I have made many many grafts of this kind of citrus (<1mm), the best, by far, is bark-graft. Bark-graft don't care of the size of root-stock or bud-wood. You can use a very small part of the bud-wood, like 2 cm. It only needs few buds. Indeed everything must be sealed by parafilm.
|
|
|
Post by mikkel on Mar 10, 2020 13:18:09 GMT -5
I did bark grafting and covered all with parafilm. Thanks for your answers.
|
|
|
Post by kelley on Mar 10, 2020 21:35:11 GMT -5
I did bark grafting and covered all with parafilm. Thanks for your answers. Hi Mikkel, do you have any photos of your graft?
|
|
|
Post by mikkel on Mar 11, 2020 1:16:59 GMT -5
All you can see now is parafilm I'm very new to grafting, so on top of that it would look very bumbling
|
|
|
Post by mikkel on Mar 11, 2020 1:22:38 GMT -5
here it is: Parafilm at its best
|
|
|
Post by Sylvain on Mar 11, 2020 5:16:06 GMT -5
This is not the way to use parafilm. When using parafilm, you must first stretch it at the breaking limit, then wrap the graft with no more than two layers on the buds. As far as you can the film must be against the graft . I mean ovoid air pockets. Then gently pinch the bud-wood to ensure a good welding between the adjacent strips.
|
|
|
Post by david on Mar 11, 2020 8:25:49 GMT -5
Sylvan is correct. In order to acquire the needed close contact and right pressure parafilm must be stretched. It will not seal out moisture or keep the scion from drying out if it is not stretched. Takes a little skill to stretch it just the right amount without breaking it. For a cleft graft.....prepare tbe rootstock and scion. Put them together ensuring cambium contact. From 1 inch below your graft, begin wrapping the parafilm covering your graft with overlapping spirals. Gently stretching the pfilm as you proceed. Continue wrapping in this manner till you have covered the graft and the scion. Be sure to cover the end of your scion if it has a cut end to keep it from bleeding out its moisture.
|
|
|
Post by mikkel on Mar 11, 2020 13:17:29 GMT -5
I was thinking about posting a picture seeing this coming. You are right in your comments. And underneath the upper layer there is a stretched and closely tight layer of Parafilm. What you see is the left over wrapped around. don`t ask me why but I did it this way.
|
|
|
Post by Laaz on Mar 11, 2020 13:45:09 GMT -5
Loose tape will promote fungus & rot. The tape needs to be stretched tight to make a water tight seal.
|
|