Viewing post #2565520 by GigiAdeniumPlumeria

RCanada said:Here's what I gathered: Use an older stem for the scion, not green. Match the size of both stems. Cut the top of the scion two weeks before the actual grafting, so the cut can heal, and the new buds will be starting to grow. Take off extra leaves if they are kind of big, leaving the littlest leaves and bud growing. Leave some tiny growing leaves. OK. On grafting day, be in the shade, make the rootstock cut, then cut the scion, placing it onto the rootstock cut in a way that it might not fall off, vertical branch, hold it there with one finger, and apply the superglue with your other hand. Keep holding for 30 seconds while the glue sets. Cover with plastic bag, tied, put in protected place, no direct sunlight, Minimum temperature 65f, 18c, maximum, 85f, 30c three weeks to a month to complete, and take off the plastic bag.

The main #1 point the man makes that's different is to cut the scion on the 'mother' plant, with the idea to get the baby-bud leaves started growing two weeks before doing the actual grafting. The upper cut will be healed, and the beginning leaves will be already pulling up sap. I believe that this is really important. A fresh chop, only a bit of stem, without this new growth, will just sit there and struggle, as well as use energy to heal the upper cut.

Sap goes up because of respiration, the leaves and other bits breathe, and give off gasses and moisture. Therefore the sap from the bottom, rootstock, is pulled into the scion. If the scion is newly cut, without leaves starting, it won't be pulling sap, it won't have nearly the energy as this way, with leaves started. Brilliant! And the older stem could have some stored carbohydrates or something to help it live whilst growing new tubules, sap bringers, veins, whatever! hahaha.

I'm peering at my plants in a much different way now, and will soon be chopping away! wheee.

He said --he used to use the hold-it-in-place with plastic and rubber band, and he also demonstrated cleft grafting, (ugh). This way, there should be almost no scar, as the pieces are matched. I'm thinking perhaps less interior scar, also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

This is an old post about grafting but this makes sense why some of my "still green" stems used for grafting shriveled but "the mature" stems seem to be okay. I also like the idea of cutting the scion a few weeks early so it can heal and buds can start to grow.

I had to remove the plastic, too high humidity caused perspiration.