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citrus tree gratfting 101

11 years ago

I would like to start grafting my own citrus trees. the big question is, how to I get a dwarf rootstock seed? I would like to graft my meyer lemons, key limes, and navel oranges from cuttings. ihave dwarf plants in containers in a greenhouse setting. how to I go about getting some dwarf rootstock seeds for these trees to grow and graft to. any advise would be great.

Comments (4)

  • 11 years ago

    google "flying dragon" seeds or seedlings. Poncirus trifoliate is a common rootstock for citrus. There are a few places that sell seedlings. Fourwinds is one but they are expensive for PT.

    Also Flying dragon is the more contorted variety of PT and the seeds dont come true from what I have found.


    also also. be careful googling for Flying Dragon seeds because apparently there is a strain of cannabis named that. Wouldnt want you to grow something that could get you in trouble.

  • 11 years ago

    I have read that the Poncirus Trifoliata is incompatible enough to cause a decline and death years down the road with the Meyer lemon. The PT/FD also has problems with pulling zinc from the soil. If you live far north but use a greenhouse, then PT or FD is not the best choice. containerized Meyer lemons do better on their own roots and are dwarf trees genetically. The naval orange should do well FDPT but I would be inclined to use Macrophilia. Your container will do the dwarfing for you and the trees will grow faster if need be to overcome a disaster that would finish off the FDPT.

    It should not be a problem with pot if you ask for flying dragon citrus rootstock seed. Anyway every Ebay listing site has a picture of their FD and the 2 FD's look a little different from each other. Look closely and ask any questions if you have any. I went to the grocery store for rootstock seeds for my meiwa kumquat tree. I came home with sweetlee tangerine. The seeds grew very well in ground and as containerize trees. If you are looking for fun in grafting you can attach many varieties to one tree by top grafting. If you are looking for exotic varieties you can order bud wood for grafting and buy your common Egret citrus fruit at the grocery store.

    I can see from your profile that you are a world renowned architect. Just chose your tree and design the greenhouse to fit it need.

    Steve

  • 11 years ago

    steve

    what is your source that says Meyer will decline on PT rootstock?

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Mike

    I have not been able to find it. I believe it came from a university site. There are 2 things I have read on PT and the second is Manure is deadly to PT. The manure statement came from one of the reliable citrus breeders. If I bump into the source I will definetly post it's link here. Another example is grafter are grafting meiwa kumquats to cariso citrange. They are incompatible. That I can prove because my inetrest were soully in meiwas.

    http://fshs.org/proceedings-o/1998-vol-111/180-182%20%28FERGUSON%29.pdf 

    Check pages 181 and 182. I would not risk the waste of time on a tree that will probably die with out doing research to disprove what I read. Google citrus grafters, and give them a call or email about comparability. Most of us have access to tree grafted to what grafts best. Trace bought a kumquat tree for his to far north for citrus with the plan of covering it in the winter. It was grafted onto rough lemon. Its roots were killed, not the tree.

    Steve

    PS Mr/miss/Mrs. Campbell

    Could you post some pictures of your greenhouse.