Hey Dax, looks like you had a productive day, the alternative being "Cabin Fever"!

Good work!

This year I grafted mugo, uncinata, heldreichii and cedrus.

The way I test for vigour is to periodically pluck a needle off and wait to see if a bead of sap emerges. It shows the system is still 'pressurised'.

My uncinata is 4 weeks grafted and lovely green bead of sap emerged yesterday.

I knew grafters would come out of the "woodwork."

Great to hear you're grafting severn.

Dax

Nicely done; vivid pictures, short and concise instructional comments, clean, neat and organize work space Dax. Had to bookmark!! Can't expect anything less from you. Cheers,

I graft twice a year now. January and August. Some is backing up precious plants, some is putting plants on to standards for space saving. A few are prime specimens of mugo I find in places that are worth propagating. The August grafting is very hit or miss but I've managed one successful graft each of the last two summers although I had heavy losses too.

Still using disposable scalpels thanks to your tip.

That's what summer grafting does, severn. You should try grafting in Fall during October or at the time that the majority of deciduous trees are coloring. I know you'll have much better results.

baxswoh, I'm using a utility knife now. It's heavy but I like it. I use it for all cuts except the wedge on the scion... that's where I use my grafting knife. I cannot get a good wedge with a utility knife most of the time so I set that aside just for that cut.

Dax

Great to see your still doing some conifer grafts. It's your past instructional posts like this that encouraged me to give grafting a shot...

I'm glad other people gained interest - quite-truthfully. That was always my mission... to have others have a liking or satisfaction that they were able to create using trade skills. It gives me immense joy when those grafts break bud and grow.

It's just too bad the majority of us run out of property. :)

Then again, I ordered 150 conifer rootstocks for next-year with no place to plant anything.

Dax

Yep, I only have 1/2 an acre, so Im pretty much maxed out. Figure I will donate to local parks once they get too big. I got my understock pre-potted, since I didn't plan well last spring. Abies from western evergreen were great. Picea Abies from musser forest were terrible. Incredible rootbound in cheap 4 inch pots... I think I'm gonna have a lot of loses as a result... Can't even get them properly watered, because the rootball is so dense. 2 failures already.

Grafting for me, grew out of necessity as I got interested in broom hunting and wanted to be able to find them and propogate them on my own. Now, I like the challenge of grafting too, but its still a little stressful waiting for the scions to push & count wins/losses.

You definitely succeeded in inspiring other. Thanks Dax!

I gave up on Musser for the same reason. In a pinch there's Western Evergreen or a relative of Jason Hupp: Brooks Tree Farm.

Got my last package of scions yesterday and grafted until dark & will finish those today. I will be close to being done grafting for the year.

Thank you for the nice comment.

Dax

Thanks for confirmation Dax in regards to Musser and recommendation of others to supply better quality scions; I have in the past tried to up pot those root bound types, prior to grafting -- save for fall or late winter (depending on when I get these types situation). Had more success during this type of situation; I think it gave me less risk, more work (save on anxiety of them to push) --- but waste not want not. Cheers,

Rootstocks of course, not scions. ;-)

Where you/anyone purchases bare-root seedlings is usually but not always dependent upon shipping prices. If I lived on the West Coast it would likely be cheaper to buy from seedling suppliers on the West Coast.

The two growers I buy bare-root seedlings from are: Flickingers or Needlefast. It all depends upon who has what I need.

Then there is what source of purchased seedling that will work best in a particular climate. For example midnightsummerdream you wouldn't graft Douglas firs on interior Rocky Mountain seedlings but to native Douglas fir to your region.

Dax

Thanks Dax; yes seedlings, availability here is higher for conifers --- I need to go to other sources from Midwest or South East for rootstock of fruit trees and nuts. I like to test and experiment with interior Rocky Mountain seedlings thou; seems more resilient to certain soil condition (pH test, high clay, or minerals), pest, etc.

Sorry; should have mention, seedlings not just for conifer grafting. We have an abundances of that going on up here as you know of conifer grafters in PNW. (LOL) I rather not graft any conifers; unless I get WB or find some during my recreational activity of hiking and fishing to happen upon one (LOL), or an extremely expensive one that I acquire that I would like a few more for my yard.

You're right about who has what one needs for rootstock; and even sometimes the quantity needed, had to go to three different sources one time to acquire quantity.

Cheers, p.s.: having trouble with my MS Outlook for my e-mail. Sent you a message; could you confirm if you received for me?, something happen yesterday morning --- I haven't been able to receive anything since then, but not sure if what sent are going too. Thanks, Dax

I got an email from you this morning and replied.

Dax

thanks Dax; will have to pull down my network and send reply later,.

Did I miss where the rootstock species is discussed? Looks like Abies nordmanniana?

Hi David,

It's Canaan. That's all I use. When I have a few extra dollars laying around and when Van Pines wants to cash in off me, I'm going to buy a hundred firma's to graft on and sell.

Dax

Ok, let me know when you do...I'll help you make a dent in covering your costs.

You definitely inspired me Dax. There are plants growing in the UK that owe their new lives to you. Consider every person you've enabled as a graft that has taken.

David, they won't have them this spring. Currently they have like 1-3" plugs and 3-5".

Severn, thank you.

Dax

As always Dax, your photo instructional is clear and super helpful. It's great to see you posting on this again here.

So does the individual bagging have an advantage over the humidity tent (like what Shawn has set up)? Or is it just a matter of available space?

Alex

I don't believe there's a difference. Some say bagging yields better results. As long as humidity is present while callousing and enough light to the scions when they break bud, there shouldn't be any advantages/disadvantages.

Thanks, Alex.

Dax