Gina, do you find seeding w/pellets work better than soil? I think they work great..Can't wait until spring when they're avaiable again. Toni

I do think the pellets are worth it!!! I am reusing a mini green house that came with pellets.. I had bought an extra pack of pellets but ran out.. I think it did work better with the pellets.. although.. the pineapples don't seem to be bothered by soil mix.. I liked that at a glance I could see if it needed water or not. if they are light they need water.. if dark they don't need water.. and I think too much or too little water are key with seedlings. have to have it JUST right..
I have lost all of my lemon trees.. gonna start some new ones in spring when I can get pellets again.. think I broke too many roots when I transplanted this last time.. the Clementine and Tangelo seem to be doing great!! the tangerine seems to be not doing much of any thing.. The kids have enjoyed watching the plants grow though.. and were excited about the flowers that George had.. even though the fruit didn't stay..
Fruit or no.. the kids have enjoyed growing the trees with me.. nice "family" project... they have been very interested in learning about grafting and every thing I do with them... I have some cutting from the root stock that I am thinking of letting my kids try grafting first hand next spring. hopefully the cuttings will have grown large enough by then..
Gina *BabyBlue*

BabyBlue11371 Where did you get your pineapples seeds from? Not from Dole pineapple! or from the store! correct.
Are these pineapples that you are writting about seedy?
or juicers? I want to grow some pineapples too! Dale

Gina,
Looking at your photos, it seems you haven't been wrapping your grafted buds. If this is the case, it explains why they are failing.
You have to over wrap the whole bud with grafting/budding tape to prevent it drying out. This is left in position for several weeks - even months in cool conditions - until the bud and stock have united. You can use half inch strips cut from polythene bags, if you don't have the proper tape.

Dale. No it wasn't a Dole. I read that Doles are not pollinated because they do not have humming birds. I had bought the pineapple for the top. wish I could remember the brand name of it. I looked for the tag I thought I had saved but can't find it.. I was shocked when I found the seeds. I had never seen pineapple seeds. I almost missed them as they are so tiny and located around the eyes. they look like specs. The pineapple taste was about the same as a Dole.. I shared it with my kids and birds.. a nice treat.. Unfortunately the Top did not make it. the roots were already dried out when I got it and I hand no luck reviving it. but I do have a couple dozen seeds and now babies. there are pics of them on my other site. I have linked at the bottom.
Honestly I got my courage to try pineapple and avocado seeds from you all!!! I might even give some others a try... I have found myself wanting to try fruit I've never eaten before. Though... I'm sure that the store bought fruit are not near as tasty as fresh..

Citrange.. I have been using florist tape. That maybe the problem.. I was just thinking when I did my first graft I used surgical tape. Since my trees are currently kept at 70* (soil temp) the bark is still slipping..?? right?? I do think that poor tree needs a break.. or just thrown out.. maybe I'll give it one more shot with better tape and if it doesn't work just compost the poor thing and put it out of it's misery.. I had taken the tape off at week 2 to check the graft and take pictures. but I put the tape back on.. The tape I used must be the reason it failed. I'll give the poly bags a try.. thanks!!!
Gina *BabyBlue*

Here is a link that might be useful: Misc house plants

Gina, is grafting similar to air layering?

I also like the pellets because the root system doesn't have to be disturbed..You just add the whole pellet in a pot w/soil and as time goes by it breaks down.
Peat pots are okay, but the material takes longer to break, and there still can be a problem checking root the system.
Your plants look really nice..were they started from seeds? cuttings? Toni

Toni,
I just did a count and of all of my house plants the only plants I have purchased are George (Miewa Kumquat), Gardenia and Orchid. that is it.. the rest are plants that I have "acquired" clippings, entire plants that were at deaths door step given to me, Family heirlooms, gifts and some started from seeds. I love to share. I will divide a plant and share the babies. I also have started participating in a plant exchange locally. If I expand my citrus collection enough I'm gonna see how many locals I can get hooked on citrus and maybe start a local citrus addicts group. LOL ;o)
Some times I'll take babies and give the "mother plant" away. this keeps my plant collection small enough to house and yet my stock is constantly rotating..
Air layering is different from grafting. air layering is closer to rooting clipping than grafting. grafting you take a bud or more from the "parent plant" and attach it to root stock. Air layering you cause roots to grow on a branch of the tree to create a new tree on it's own roots...
Not sure if I explained that very well. as I have not tried air layering YET and have only tried bud grafting.. I'm sure there are others that could probably explain the difference better than I can..
Gina *BabyBlue*

Gina, I've air layered plants successfully, but only tried grafting once, unsuccessfully..LOL>.
I tried grafting an Azalia on stock..I think I let it dry out too much and the next thing I knew it died. I'd like to actually watch someone do this, to get the hang of it. Even if it didn't work, at least it'd be an attempt.
On your site, it looks like you have a ton of plants..espeically citrus..LOL..
So you're going to get others hooked..? LOL>.my goodness, girl, you're creating more citrus monsters..LOL.
Ah, but what a vice to have, right? Could be worse..Toni

Good for you Gina! Better to have tried & failed than to never try at all. I bet it's just too cold for the graft to 'take'. Keep that plant & try again in spring. I have a bunch of P trifoliate & Flying dragon seeds planted (from citrus expo) & will try T bud grafting in spring on some poncirus tri. that are all ready growing.
YOU GROW GIRL!!! LOL