Hman: Good question. Whether grafting pawpaws, muscadines, pears, mulberries, pomegranates, or various kinds of citrus, the biggest cause for still-alive grafted scions to start dying has been from 2 kinds of black fungus. One is the "regular" black sooty mold stuff that LOVES dwelling here in the hot, humid, shady, semi-forest. It grows on concrete, fences, roofing shingles, auto paint, etc. The other is a bumpy/pointed spike formation that spreads from one part of a still-alive scion to other area of the scion until it covers the whole thing.The tiny black spikes are hard. I spray the tools/hands/scions/branches multiple times with some type of spray or another to sanitize things, but while waiting a bit for the bark to dry before doing the next step, that is too much of an opportunity for just one ambitious mold spore to float down to the scion and set up a high-capacity baby factory at a site that will soon be wrapped in Parafilm where the trapped moisture will be mold-pleasing. I check the scions regularly and take notes on what is happening. While not a big budgeted scientific study, it is a classroom to learn from. The scions that do become fruiting branches make it worth trying, and there are many.

use a razor blade. it will scrape right off and the razor blade won't damage the granite. shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. Note: you can also use a razor blade on quartz but must be a lot more careful since the resin in the surface (30%) is easily damaged.

"for.....eternity" Yes but it is waaaay better because we did not have to beg Garden Web. It is not Garden Web power but vermicomposter poster board magic. It works just like magic. It is fantastic! It is the answer to what we wanted. A place on the board to let people considering posting and people who want typical FAQ information to get that information. Then when they have a question that is less typical, that needs a bit more of a look, posters will have the tools they need to ask a question that will get the response their needs require. It lets them know what information will be helpful from them so they can get the very best answer our rag tag but dashingly handsome bunch o verd heads can give them. Even if some of us do paint our nails a nice shade of vermilion.

Oh my, so healthy looking (sorry I didn't see this until now) my mother hasn't been well the past couple days, but this cheers me up, what an adorable little guy with a nice caudex so far.. thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with me as it's so much appreciated.. you can tell they're spoiled rotted(always lugging them in and out and tending to them like little babies haha the same with my couple:( looking to buy more though lol as I'm sure everyone here is as it becomes an addition, it's been tough lately.. and just tending to my plants and trees makes me feel happy, they really are great fir the soul..very rewarding... I love your photos please keep me updated:)