I hope the rootstock wasn't too pricey for you to experiment on! It would be a shame if the graft doesn't succeed. It would make such a cool trunk base

Thanks, Sunshine! It was the thickest one I had lol. I messed up a few buds trying to cut them from the stick, so I decided to keep it at 1.

Kvet, I bought 4 like it for $8 (shipping included in that price). If the graft fails, the tree should be fine - hopefully lol

Well, I unwrapped the graft this morning and the bud is still green! The bud itself does look a little dry, but my fingers are crossed! The tip of the graft did not fuse, so I wrapped it back up and will check in another week or so. Meanwhile, the rootstock grew several inches over the past 3 weeks while sitting in the shade - hopefully it will promote that level of growth to the bud. Thank you all for your help and encouragement!!

bud will not grow if you don't remove the apical dominance of the rootstock. This means to gird-it, bend over or cut-it down just above the graft.

Looks ok to me, you should wait a couple of weeks to make a cut at the kink to bend down that branch for now later you cut that branch a little closer to the graft, for that you might want to wait till your graft is about 5" tall.

That's wonderful news Kelley!! The grafting looks pretty clean for how curved the area is. If it's still alive and kicking after a month, does that mean it's definitely surviving? I would be so anxious playing the waiting game if it were my graft

Thanks, Bob! I was planning to wait a week before bending the main branch down - should I wait longer? Or wait to cut it off until the graft has reached at least 5” in height?

Kvet, thank you! I have been staring at this tree every single day for 3 weeks lol. I couldn’t wait another week lol. The original fruit was delicious and apparently labeled wrong, so I sure hope it makes it, even if it will be years before it produces.

I hope it grows for you Kelley!!

Kelley have you seen photos of Steve's grafts? Hopefully he chimes in on his process during this stage of the graft. I've seen photos where he bends down the rootstock branch past the budded location. Or he makes a half cut to help bend it down but leaves the branch still attached to continue providing nutrients. It sounds like the most resourceful way of providing the bud with nutrients while removing the apical dominance.

I agree bob! It's a wonderful way of connecting with your community as well as connecting with our food! I can't indulge in a grafting hobby yet but lately I want to so badly! I think I may grow out the nucellar seedlings I've been sprouting and sell off them off to fund a grafting hobby.. :D (if legal)

Who said you have to make a hobby, you might just do a couple if you only have room for two. You don't have to go crazy like me. If you do like me eventually you will hit a roadblock, trust me!.

There are two ways to look at, One way to buy a lot of tree,'s or make your own. Having said that, I have bought 7 tree's in total years ago, 2 from Walmart ( left over), $5.00 each, 4 from Harris ( full price $20.00 each) and 1 from Lowe's $ 1.00( left over).

Recoop all my money. Now i have grafted all the newcomers, 4 from spring 2017 have fruits on them. Like this one.

It's more like I have very little extra space in my budget to get rootstock and budwood for grafting purposes. Getting rootstock is probably easy if I'm willing to sprout seeds and wait but I know for sure that budwood from UCR is expensive!

Well i guess i am more braver than you, i got more budwood than needed, not necessary from this forum, i am still in contact with oldtimers, they want stuff and i get stuff. I did got budwood from someone on this forum. Steve is one that would be willing to help, he is a very reliable source. I might help you, but i did prune my last year grafts last month and guess what, cuttings are on the burnpile.

Look at the little tree above, nice cutting for next spring, nough said..

If you live in California you can get budwood from those guys cheap, go figure

When you want lots of tree's in the distant future allways have rootstock growing in case , very imortant.

Thank you for your offer Bob! I'm going to resist the temptation and hold off on any extra citrus activities for now. You can hold onto your cuttings for composting or turning into ash fertilizer, whatever it is you do with your burnpile :) Yes it seems that having a full stock of rootstock trees is much more important than having budwood. If anything I can sprout some rootstock seed and baby them for some years until I'm ready to go on a grafting spree!

Update: no real change so far, though the bud appears to be swelling? I have yet to bend the trunk down (following Bob’s advice), but I’m hoping it will bud out soon :)

That's cool Kelly! With the bud almost "rounded" like that, it makes me wonder if that will end up being a flower bud.

Congrads on your swelling bud. Proof of success.

Here are my 2

Fukushu on C35

NZL on US897 thenAfter root rot 1-1-18

summer solstice 2018 come back.

Thats all I have room for.

Good show, Steve!

Kelly, how about graft a piece above that one, still time. aamof how about several.. Make it interesting!

Jenny, that would be my luck! Lol. If it is indeed a flower bud, then will that be the only thing it produces?

Congratulations, Steve! I know you thought you were going to lose it at one point, but your NZL looks great now!

Thanks Bob, Kelly. Root rot can happen really fast. Mine hit in less than 2 months.

Steve

Update: I bent the top branch down and fed FE, and a few days later:

I know I should have waited to post a photo until the growth is larger, but I was too excited lol.

Yep I understand. Keep us posted

Keeping my fingers crossed!!!!

Finally it decides to grow :)) Give that bud lots of light, Kelley! You can notch the bark on the side the bud is placed, with a knife half an inch after that bud's location, so it gets more nutrients from the roots. See in the picture

Oh, I read you already bent the branch after the graft, so no need for notching, Kelley! You can use the method I mentioned above, for some other bud graft in the future.

Thanks Steve, Vlad, Sunshine! Sunshine, I should have notched the trunk instead of breaking the it, but it’s still busting out new growth (I pinched them off). It’s in full afternoon sun right now and loving it. I have a good 2 to possibly 3 months left in the outdoor growing season left - I hope it puts out enough growth before I bring it in. Stubborn trees lol.

Now if I can keep the caterpillars off of it, all will be well.

Update: my little graft just experienced it’s second growth flush. I brought it inside of my screened in porch to protect it from CLM. It would probably grow faster outside in full sun, but I couldn‘t Let it get ravaged by the tiny worms lol

My understanding is that the CLM is nocturnal. I would put the plant outside during the day and bring inside for the night. http://idtools.org/id/citrus/pests/factsheet.php?name=Citrus%20leafminer

sunshine Kelley

Nice work. congratulations.

Steve

Give it lots of light and it will be very happy. Train the little branch upright with a thin stick until it's taller. Good work, Kelley!

That’s a great idea, Sunshine! Thanks! :)

Cute tree, I can hardly tell it’s grafted. Nice grafting work!

Update:

Kelley, I am in awe. I have yet to get the couarge to do this. Great work and look at the growth.

That looks vert good for a years growth. I am happy for you and the tree.

Steve

Kelly, was that budwood from a stems-and-leaves tangerine pack at the store?

Hey Dave, it sure was. And my first ever graft, as well. This tree has a will to survive lol!

I've got to try that again.

Nice tree, Kelley! Looks healthy and green, well done!

Thank you Mike, Steve, and Sunshine!!

Dave - I’m pretty sure that if I can do it, anybody can :). Give it a shot!

Kelley, did you soak the cuttings for a while or go right to grafting them?

Did you get the cuttings from these?

Dave, I did soak the cuttings overnight - Sunshine has a post with all of the instructions. I’ll find it and post them here. I used the stems from a box of mandarins labeled ‘W Murcott‘. The stem on the fruit in your hand looks to be fresh enough to graft :)

Here you go, Dave!

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5155635/kaffir-lime-grafts-from-store-bought-twigs

Thanks! The box I got just said 'Mandarins' and did not specify which variety. I just made the assumption of Murcott because of the time of year.

Almost 2-year update: my tree is blooming for the first time! If the buds turn into fruit and they actually hold, I’ll probably pull them since the tree itself is still pretty small. Hopefully it will double in size this season.

Kelley, what a great job. I’ve always wanted to try grafting but didn’t think I could do it so haven’t tried yet. You should be very proud. How exciting is that )

What kind of mix did you use? I like the looms of it and your trees seeem to love it.

Thanks Mike! You should definitely try grafting! It’s so rewarding to create your own tree. My mix is extremely simple: soil conditioner from Lowes with perlite. It may be a little dense, but it tends to dry quickly. The best part is - it’s super cheap! The trees seem to love it - I up potted one of my home grafted trees the other day and the root ball was in great shape.

Wow. They sure respond well. Guess where I’m going today. ? Ha. Going to try to get Clorox wipes too. That might be more of a challenge. I’m thinking about doing it. I’m sure if I do I’ll get a lot of support to graft. Anything like that intimidates me like even getting a new phone.
Be safe and thanks for the updates. I like people that follow through and keep us informed.
Mike