Hi Roxanne!!

Im so excited to hear you are going to start a Rainbow tree!! You will have so much fun with this project too!

i started one this season adding two new cultivars to my Texas Aggie.

~ Aztec Gold

~ Katherine's Desire

Both are doing well and have successfully taken, so I'm thrilled !!

I believe it's best to graft when the trees are fully active !! We can go over some more specific instructions and helpful tips, but I wanted to post a few tools that I have acquired from other Plumeria friends around the country that help me with my grafting !!

This one is from a friend in California and he makes these grafting tools. It's great for V Grafts.

This wooden grafting box helps get the same slant graft angle This was made from my friend in Texas

My first grafting experiments were from downsizing trees that were to tall and lanky. Some call it mid cut grafting or down grafting but I used the simple slant grafts on those!! I can post a before and after if you like!!

laura

THANKS Laura.. My host tree will be staying vertical in ground...so do I hold the tool up next to it with new addition in it to make cut?

Hi Roxanne!!

Here is a link for you to watch and see how this one tool works... You could very easily graft and just use something solid against the back of the branch that you are cutting. ( like a block of wood) This tool makes the same exact cut so it alignes right up with the scion and host tree! You will get a kick out of the yard it was filmed in??? Look closely and you might see Tug or Mike around Davids table... lol!

You can also google Diane Gotti grafting video that has helped me .. I personally use the v graft on smaller branches and i will use the slant graft on larger branches.

Remember to cut the scion ( new cutting tip that you want to use to graft onto your tree) remember to make the cutting around 8 -10 inches or so. You don't want to have a huge scion because of the weight and it will be easier to wrap when you first start learning how to graft! Once you get the feel of grafting, you can graft larger cuttings and learn how to brace and protect the new scions so they will have support while they take to the host!

Here is the link to David's video!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=a6CKOI2ALX0

Laura

You would eyeball where you would want your cuts.. keeping in mind that you want the diameter of the two to be the same... clean with isopropyl alcohol .

I would recommed practing on other cuttings before you start on your Rainbow tree so you get the feel of cutting.

The latex will be flowing, but you just wipe away the excess that runs down the branch. You might want to wear those disposable latex gloves when doing this... I can send you some if you need them!!

Using either slant or v grafts, you would cut each separately. It wouldn't work trying to keep both together to cut them at the same time.. that could be dangerous to your fingers and the cutting would move as well... As long as the angle is the same on a slant and the diameter is the same or close, you won't have a problem. The v graft tool makes it easier to make it fit and have a good close match. It like placing to puzzle pieces together to make it fit!!

Grafting tape, isopropyl alcohol to clean areas where you will cut..

Sharp knife or grafting knife or tool

Green gardening tape

small zip ties

Laura

Laura,

Thank you for sharing and link to the video. I have been grafting few and I am so cheap so have been using black electrol tape and it works pretty good also. Using small zip ties is good idea to keep applied pressure.

Thanks,

Toshi

Hi Toshi!!

You can always find something that works well for you!! ( that's not being cheap.. it's using what you have!! ) I'm glad it's working for you and I'm glad that you will try those little zip ties. They really help!!

Have a great night!!

Laura

Alohas Laura, Just had time to watch the video...so good. Do you use the Opsite tape? Need to find a surgeon friend to find it? :-)))

Hi Roxanne!!!

i have the tape but its hard to use.. ( i dont have enough hands to

keep

it from

sticking together, but ill

keep trying!! Ha!!!!

i just use the regular grafting tape and then follow with the green floral

tape!!

Laura

going to try medical supply. Larry hold with his hands. :-) Best time late March? Or wait till out in leaves which isn't till june out here this last season...

Hi Rox!!

You are so lucky to have Larry lending his helping hands!! ( you certainly do have a great man their missy!! ;-)

i would wait until they are actively growing ! It takes a good 6-8 weeks to have a healthy tree take to the new graft, so starting your tree in the beginning of June will allow the best time of the season for them to take and then have enough time to be at their best before they relax for the season!!

You will hear different opinions on when the best time to graft can be, but I just believe having the tree being at its most active and full vitality will always reward you with the best of what you are trying to achieve. This goes for repotting, root pruning, grafting etc!!

xoxo

Laura

I'll have to take a picture of the smallest tree that I have grafted. It was a little seedling that was damaged in the winds of one of the hurricanes that passed through. ( the tropical winds..) I decided to try and graft it instead of tossing this Tiger Seedling.. it's doing well for a little guy!! ;-)

HHHHMMMMM, will post pix later of BIG tree wanting a BIG trim and grafts. Problem is, not straight up vertical limbs. so can you only graft vertical, makes sense I guess.

Here are some close up photos of my grafting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r68LMgD2IBE

and another one is V cut before Laura provided the tool to do the cutting. I will make my own V cut tooling next year. BTW, if you go to Homedepot and looking for sheet rock section, there is a similar tool for corner mud application tool. Maybe I will use that for next year.

Here is the big floppy pink noid I will severely prune and graft reds and oranges on it...not many straight vertical limbs.

Here is the noid bloom

Rox, My picture is close up photo and did not show how angle each branches are when I did the grafting. It should not be an issue. Make sure both surface is touch together and tape it good and I will be using tie wrap next time. Good luck.

Like Kawagoe mentioned, no problems grafting on the branches... just give good support and I would remember to not let the new scions be to long and " heavy"

Laura

Kawagoe!! That tool is from that department. David bent it so it was a 45 degree angle and then sharpened those edges!! ;-)

Laura

Oh, so glad Laura you said that. Been looking at nurseries. Larry the math teacher will get it at a 45....mucho mahalos...again