Thought you where going to talk about a variety of lime I was unfamiliar with. Still I read with amusement. I agree stranger things have happened, but I will say the rootone is unnecessary. The wound reaction of the cambium layer is what knits the scion to the stock plant. When I was in college I had a very good horticulture professor who's father used to field graft seedlings in the orchard. The main thing he used to stress was to make sure the cuts are done with a sharp knife and the scion is cut smoothly without any undulation so there are no gaps for air to get in and dry out the scion as it heals. Also, try for semi hardwood scion wood preferably pencil thickness or slightly smaller. Semi Hardwood comes from the center of the branch. Greenwood=at the terminal end is too flimsy and Hardwood at the base of the brach=too hard and thick. Prep the scion wood by defoliating at the petiole. The axillary buds on the branch are located where the petiole of the leaf attaches to the stem. Also called "nodes". I like scion wood with at least 2 to 3 nodes so when the scion sprouts there is the potential for more leaf and stem mass. Use budding rubber or rubber bands of medium width approx 1/4 inch and as long as possible. If your using rubberband cut them to form one strand. Or I have had luck with green non adhesive tie tape. Wrap the graft tight to make sure there is good contact between the scion and the stock. Start the wrap below the graft so you have an area that has stability and continue over the union of the stock and scion. Like your bandaging your knee if you injured it. Tie off the end by pulling the terminal end under the final wrap and cinch it tight and cut off the excess if need be. You could add grafting wax over the wrap if you think air is likely to get in. Also use some type of pruning sealer at the terminal end of the scion becuse that has been cut too and can dry out as well. Or perhaps you could bubble gum like you tried already. The book to consult is the "Grafter's Handbook" which is still in print, I think. It's been around a long time but is still the text to consult as a primer. Try the American Horticultural Society website; they have a bookstore. A little long winded but I tried to make it concise. Look up whip grafts or vaneer grafts. I like those. Good luck!!!

Sorry, I've been busy. The visit went very well. The young man knows his stuff, genuinely cares about the good health and integrity of gardens, commercial and residential and likes his job. First we went over documentation. Regulations require that buyers (us) obtain a permit to get a plant from overseas AS WELL AS requiring that seller has a phyto certif. or some agreement with USDA. The Netherlands, for ex., has such agreement. That is why you can go to tourist shops there and bring back the bulbs they sell. But technically, you should have permit in your wallet and declare those things when going thru customs. You can get permission up to 12 of certain plants in your luggage, again, need permit to do that and declare. Not all plants, there is a list. You go to USDA website and search permit PPQ Form 587 and it will tell you what all you need to do. As to my plant, he said that technically he should have confiscated but didn't. However, he asked me to report of any problems with plant. I said yes and considered it a solemn promise to him. There will be a record of my visit, what I purchased/planted, from whom, etc. As to my other citruses, other than aphids, there were all in good health though he did take several pics of a branch on mi Lisbon Lemon. He noticed something unusual and said he'd contact me if problems. I feel better but it will be much simpler if I just buy stuff here, by the rule. Easier said than done where my taste for the exotic rears its ugly head.....

So I checked my tree yesterday and it has exploded into bloom!! The weird thing is the flowers have anywhere from 3 to 7 petals on them!! Had to enlist help from my husband to take this picture for you :)

I just bought a red finger lime tree from home Depot. If you go to the citrus section and look at the lime trees they each have different tags with the varieties on them. I found one left. It was 39$ I'm in st Pete Florida. It specifically says it can only be sold in Florida not shipped.