Great information and well-timed, I did some grafting myself yesterday for the first time.

As for the seedlings, I keep mine covered in the propagator as long as they are indoors, approx 3 weeks. After inital sowing I keep the vents closed, once the majority has germinated I leave the vents open. But, main reason for keeping them covered indoors it to keep them safe from the cats. I've read everywhere that after germination they don't have to be covered anymore.

I leave mine for about 11 days, but like Pagan. I am so impatient and always looking to see if they have taken.

I find that if the scion is smaller than the rootstock, that I have the best results. Too much moisture inside the plastic covering can cause problems w water getting into the graft union. Sometimes a pin or needle to make a tin whole just below the union will allow moisture to escape.

Hope they join for you.

Rick

thank you Pagen. The last 2 grafts dehydrated and fell off after I took the plastic off. I was just wondering how much harm it does to leave it on. You can't trust them furry critters..

What was the mix you used for your seedlings?

I take any covering off once 40 - 50 % of them have heaved the soil. Then I just mist w a fine spray to keep seed coat moist to allow it to fall off.

Too much moisture at this time could just cause damping off or collar rot on seedlings.

Rick

Thank you Conny and Rick. I was typing while you were typing I think.

Rick, I was thinking about cutting the plastic so that air could flow but the plastic will still hold the graft on..

Funny that people with cats always have to do things a little differently..

It's amazing how many different ways there are to graft. For me, I cut the rubber bands off at 10 days but leave the plastic bag on until I see growth. When I graft in perfect weather there is usually growth started by day 10 but sometimes it can take a bit longer. But I know by day 10 when I cut the bands whether they have taken too by the firmness. The ones that take are nice and firm when gently touched but the ones that haven't will pretty much fall off as soon as I cut the band. If they take on one side only I just make a judgement call as to whether it's taken enough or to cut off and redo.

dragonstone,

Mix 1. coco coir pieces, perlite, potting soil.

Mix 2. is odd. it has 2 layers. the bottom layer is a mineral mix (pumice, grit, zeolite). the top layer is not very thick but it is gritty mix with perlite. I tried the mineral mix by itself on the first group of seedlings but I ended up pulling them out and putting them in paper towels to germinate. It seemed like the mineral mix is too heavy for the seeds.

Mix 3. the leftovers from sifting the gritty mix rinsed through bug screen.

Mix 4 gritty mix ( perlite, pinebark fines, Oil dry),

I believe it was Marie that made a comment a few years ago about moisture build up within the plastic. She had said to just make a tiny whole below union only to allow any built up moisture to escape.

If your humidity levels are fairly high right now, that should help w drying out of the scion.

I have found that if after 11-14 days that the scion has not joined, it is not going to. I have had some join only on have the scion and they have been fine and in time it fills in.

My friend in Australia told me that one of the ways that you can lose grafts is to put them out into full sun too soon. To leave them in filtered sunlight until good growth has commenced.

Rick

Christine, How do you keep the plastic bag on if you cut the rubber bands?

It just sits there. I don't try to remove it, just cut the band and loosen the bottom of the bag away from the branch carefully so as not to bump the scion as they sometimes stick to the branch from the sap. When I graft I put the scion right up into the corner of the bag too, that worked much better for me and by doing that it helps hold it in place better and give a more even pressure on the whole piece. I have my grafts in a little green house and most times the bag stays there after removing the band until I take it off. Occasionally a bag will blow off. I just found it helped by keeping the bags sitting over the scion as it still kept a bit of moisture in so it doesn't dry out if still trying to take.

Here you go, Sandy.

Pagan

Thanks Pagen. I needed a visual. How long do you leave the tape on?