Laura, I also use rubberbands with grafting citrus, you get a tighter hold, than finish with tape. Did you watch a Video on side grafting and barkgrafting both are rather easy.

After grafting you can individually wrap each graft with little piece of plastic bag for few days to keep the humidity level higher.

Make sure you don't spray the grafted branches with water, in order to keep them safe from getting mold.

Bob, thanks...I’ll look those methods up. Can I just use rubber bands over the grafting area and then the plastic wrap? Sunshine, I take it the twigs should be dry when I graft. But if I dry them with a paper towel for example, am I not recontaminating them? Should I wait till I get the tape or just try with rubber bands? If I wait, how best can I store the twigs?

You are not dabbing them, you are putting them on clean paper towel and by the time you make the cuts, they will dry a bit, work fast, don't worry and have fun! Good luck Laura :))

I would not store them and just use tapes cut from medical gloves or a rubber band. Storing would be in the fridge in a plastic bag, but don't soak them for the second time after you take them out. Some of the above questions were answered on my post;)

Sunshine, don't you wrap the graft union with rubber bands first, then with Parafilm?

You can go either way, Vladimir! I have done both ways and they were ok.

Don,t forget a very sharp knife, clean cut, no jacked edges. You can practice on anything before you do the actual process. Try on a fig branch, it is rather soft wood, just make several upward cuts, about an inch long. You got a lot sionwood in that picture,makes a bunch new tree’s.

My friend (professional citrus grafter) wraps with plumber's Teflon tape. It seals, its white and stays cool, and the bud pushes through the tape when it grows.

Steve

Thanks Bob! I need to sharpen a kitchen knife. Steve, I may need to buy some of that tape till I receive the grafting tape.

There are lots of different types of grafting tape/seal that people use based mostly on their own experiences. If you put the budwood (rinsed with a weak chloro solution) in a zip lock bag with a moist paper towel and put them in the bottom of your refri, they can remain viable up to 6 months. Someone here said to sprinkle a little cinnamon on the paper towel to prevent mold; I have no personal experience with that, but I learned it here. As for the root, I would probably try both the lemon and the calamondin. I only use T-bud method; but for very small budwood, my guru sometimes uses cleft grafts. As for knives, I use exacto knives; and break off/discard the piece I use; thus always sharp and always clean.

Yay Laura, it's done:) Now wait and unwrap them after 3 weeks. The cleft grafts will show very soon if they have taken or not.

Yes, a bit of a relief, but I learned a lot. I’m glad I tried and hope at least one takes. :)

It will take, Laura :) I remember when my very first graft took, I was so happy.

Boy, the Larosa house is now in deep d...d....! You can now re graft some not so good ones or make multies grafts per tree.

Yes Bob! Think of all the damage I could do....;)

Laura, how hard was the t bud graft? Fruit mentor makes it look so simple - therefore it must be difficult :). Congrats on your first grafts! I can’t wait to see updates.

Kelley, the hardest part to all the grafts - that one included - was cutting pieces that fit. It’s like creating a little jigsaw puzzle with pieces of wood in a hurry. I only used that one on one because it was the only seedling that was actively growing. It was not more difficult than the others I think. In a way, once I got it to fit in, it was easier to tape up. The Teflon tape worked, but was hard to keep from wrinkling up. I’m interested to feel the difference between that and the grafting tape. Once I get it, I may graft a branch of my ST that is alive, but has been broken and is dangling. When I take the tree out, I’m sure it will snap off, so why not try to I graft it onto another lemon seedling.... I’m on a roll...;)

Laura I’m so excited for you! I can’t wait to see how they turn out. I don’t think I’ll try grafting citrus. There’s not that many more varieties I want. I might try my hand at air layering soon.

However, I did watch a video on grafting olive trees. The types of olives I enjoy don’t seem to be suited for containers nor can I seem to find them for sale for home growers. Eventually I might have to graft my own.

Good luck with your new babies!

Thank you Alanna! I have a small olive tree...just a common variety. I forget the name.

Cool stuff Laura. Good luck and congratulations on all that you've accomplished!

This is a good day for me, I finally feels that is this forum going in added direction. Laura, go big, you got my vote.

Looking good Laura! Looks like a fun new endeavour. I'm still working on my cutting technique.