New Grafting Chamber

13 years ago

I started with flat size and built around that. There's 1" of pea graves, followed with 2" of perlite, then weed fabric.

An inline fan at one end of the corrugated pipe and air circulation is constant. All I need to do is add lightweight poly.

An all day project, and I'm done. Love it.

And, the two-level rack against the back wall holds the exact # of flats that the chamber holds. After the grafts will push, they will be removed from the tent chamber and placed on the rack.

Enjoy,

Dax

18" x 15" x 3.5" sturdy flats. Perfect size for Anderson Tree Band Pots.

recycled aluminum insulation (layer one)

insulation sloped so the water will run to the drain

Layer 2 of insulation

Heat Mats go on next - insulation is so the heat doesn't ever go to the floor.

1" pea gravel (drainage)

2" of perlite - wetted down. Weed fabric is next.

Perlite is done:

Yes after watering a lot it does go right to the drain. I can thank my contractor for sloping the greenhouse foundation.

Weed fabric is on and tacked in place with nails

Ah yes, I'm getting somewhere

This photo and the rest all go together. It's the corrugated pipe with the duct fan placed on one end.

Leave some space so poly can go on and for airflow

Other end with fan - leaving space again

All that's left is poly

Plenty of room

I'm tired as hell.

----------------------------------------------------------

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Comments (28)

bluespruce53
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
see you succumbed to a hairy chin again Dax :)
freeflight
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Incredible! Is the drain pipe perforated? Will the poly you are referring to cover the front of the chamber? what material will the shelf above be made from?

I am really impressed with how well thought out your design is!
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Thank you Dax. This was about my third year in trying to propagate this J. virginiana. The first year I tried strong rooting hormone on cuttings, that failed. Second year I tried grafting with a knife (not razor sharp, just sharp) and doing the bag method except I did not let them breath, those all failed (quick), Spider mite infestation on the root stalks, and the knife not being razor sharp was likely the main causes for a quick death. Third year (this year) The scions seemed green for a long time in the humidity chamber after grafting, but I think that was just because the humidity preserved the chlorophyll even though the scions where getting little to no water uptake from the root stalk (guessing). The only ones to eventually grow a tiny bit and did not turn brown for the longest time, were the ones I had half in a jar of water (approach grafts), and they actually grew, but after I took the "graft" out of the humidity and removed the jar the tender new growth quickly shrived up and the last couple of scions I had died. I don't know if this guess is true or not, But I've been guessing (and hoping) the the only reason they failed is because I got the scions off the parent tree as the tree was coming out of dormancy in February (pollen cones on the tree where large and swollen, and just about to burst open). A very warm winter did not help either (breaking dormancy even earlier than typical.) So perhaps the scions did not have time to heal before the water started to transpire out of the foliage of the scions and juices flowing in the scions, thus a very poor graft union that was very susceptible to even tiny stresses in the aftercare (in other words: little to no water and nutrient uptake for the scions). Does this sound likely or not, (I don't mind if you disagree with what I said above, I want to learn as much as possible, so you can tell how you think about it). This time I want to get the scions in the dead of winter (in January). Do you think bagging the grafts could be better than the humidity chamber? Bagging them would be more work and I worry about spider mites, but I don't mind to do what ever it takes to get a successful cone of it, I'll do it. I would even spend hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars to graft/clone it successfully. lol You probably know how it is for me, ones favorite plant/tree of a plant enthusiast is kind of like a very close family pet.
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hostajim1
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Dax, what a well thought out professional job, hostajim
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
let me know if you guys are planning a trip ...

is the set up for now.. or for next winter???

can you graft in summer.. or is that what you are going to find out ...

ken
kbguess
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
dax,

i think you are an engineer at heart. great work. when i see all you get done, i feel like a slug.

keith
Cher
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Growing up in a contractor's family myself, I have to say I am way impressed Dax. Great job!
Cher
sluice
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Super nice. Look forward to seeing it chock full of plants!
gardener365
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Ken, I'm broke. I need to write to Marshall. I can graft maples and root conifer cuttings in the summer. For conifer grafting in summer a person needs to use a nearing frame that has a tall back wall that faces due south (or pure shade) + tented. Great for cuttings too, year-round.
............
Stocked it will be to the tund of 354 grafts. These trays (made in USA! - link below) were 3" shorter than standard trays, and that 3" really made the difference in root to maneuver.

freeflight- the corrugated is not perforated. the bench is already complete, everything's built from 2x4's. Oh I see what you're asking, there is no shelf above the grafting chamber - itself. The poly (I cannot stress how important lightweight is) surrounds the entire tunnel. ON the front is a furring strip that is used to tack the poly to the 2x4 running the bottom edge. I'll include another thread I wrote a while ago:
Here's that thread

Quite amazing, huh folks? I could lay on that and snooze with 70 degrees beneath. It just 'couldn't be more ideal.
Thanks for the compliments, all.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Heavy-Duty Propagation Trays 25 for 85 bucks total spent
gardener365
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Blue - The beard. I can actually say I'm at the point of getting older. I like a well-groomed beard. I t looks, good on me. This will be the first summer ever, during my entire life, that i'll have grown a beard.

I forgot to mention that. And, aches and pains are forever present........

Dax
coniferjoy
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Dax, it looks that you will become a professional grafter in the future.
Your new grafting house looks fantastic anf I hope you will succesfull propagate a lot of conifers in it!

About your beard, did you mention that you're now at the point of getting older?
What's your age, 37 or something like that?
My opinion is that life will start at that age, remember you are now just in the middle of your life so you have at least another 37 years to go ;p)
Good luck!
gardener365
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks! I feel young again (:0). Yes, many conifers to be grafted in the next 37, hehheh. This winter I must prove myself! : )

Dax
arceesmith
13 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Looks great, Dax! Inspires me to get my tucas in gear and improve my little house. I actually managed to make about 50 grafts this year. It's so fun to see them finally begin to pop out their new growth.
gardener365
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I want to keep this thing alive. Plus, grafting time is coming near.

Dax
arceesmith
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I'm glad you kicked it back up - I had forgotten about this. Really looks great, Dax. Makes me want to invest a little more in my little grafting house, but then I've had fine success with the few I graft each of the past few years, so it would be difficult to justify the expense. Have fun this year - when will you get started?
maple_grove_gw
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Nice tour, Dax. I'm glad you revived this thread.

Have you made any modifications or improvements to the chamber over the past two years? Not that it needs improvements or anything, it looks like it was very well thought out. I'm just curious if, after a couple of years, you've got any update or other comments on its performance. Also, I seem to recall seeing in one of your old threads that you would pipe humid air from a humidifier into your chamber - do you still do that?

I'll soon be back in my dinky basement grafting setup but, man I'd really love a greenhouse like that. Problem is, I've got no place to put it on my property. Maybe it's time to consider moving...
gardener365
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
No, it's perfect. If I could re-site my greenhouse, it'd go from it's current position of due south to due north or due east, preferably north. Reason is it heats up to quickly facing south (here in IL). So many sunny days......

Dax
taxo_man
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sweet setup!
J
gardener365
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sorry I missed your post RC. This year I'm finished and my greenhouse is maxed with seeds in Anderson containers. I'm growing primarily oaks. It's been bitter these last two years where I bring 270 good grafts to my shadehouse and during the heat of the summer (100's temps for months) I toss 220 of them and then another 20 later in the year. I'm tired of it.

taxo- thank you sir.

Dax
coniferjoy
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Dax, how about grafting conifers comming winter...?
gardener365
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Nope, I'm taking the year off. I'm growing oaks such as these Bur oak from my native state of Illinois:

Quercus macrocarpa
{{gwi:95385}}

Dax
whaas_5a
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Either you have hobbit sized hands or those are some big *** acorns!
gardener365
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The caps on the larger ones are 3" across. Most acorns are the size of a golf ball, some are larger.

Dax

Full Greenhouse
ladylotus
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Nice!!! Looks like you have all your oak seeds planted up. I can't wait to see them all start growing for you. Will be much easier than grafting. LOL. I'm looking forward to start grafting again this year. Good luck on your new adventure.
ireena (zone 5-6)
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Dax, I have some questions about your huge acorns:) I also like to grow some Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) in my meadow. I'm going to buy seeds online - by Sheffild's Seed Company. They recommend to put acorns into the ground (outdoor) over the winter.

Can you recommended me the same thing? The garden ground is not yet frozen.... But I can see that you put the acorns in pots ... What temperature than is needed and when they germinate?

Ireena
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
dax ...

can i ask ...

what the hell are you going to do with that many burr oaks???

lol ...

can you graft robur on them???

ken
gardener365
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I can use them for other white oaks, Ken. I'm going to take a new path to see how they will sell on Craigslist and Ebay and most-importantly, if they will stay alive thru these insanely hot summers we've been having. I can't keep my conifer grafts alive. It's pointless.

Ireena, in the ground is the best way. Plant (3) per space and select the strongest seedling the following year. Be sure to cage where your trees are so you know where and to keep rabbits and deer from eating them. (3) per hole also may keep squirrels and other animals from removing all per spot.

Ken, I also planted many other oak species, along with: hickory, magnolia, sorbus, pecan, etc- and I am going to plant several of everything on the property that adjoins mine. And, I will plant them all around the valleys here too.

Dax
floramakros
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
"What's your age, 37 or something like that?"

37? That's nothing! You're barely 1 in Sequoia years...
gardener365
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
39 this month. but I age beautifully.

Dax

New Grafting Chamber

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