30May Areole Graft.jpg

Waiting to see if it pups for you and in what timeframe before I attempt the same thing

 

Would also love to see an update on the one where you grafted several variegated areoles in place of areoles in the stock, if you see which one I'm talking about.

Edited May 31, 2018 by MeanGreen

2 hours ago, MeanGreen said:

Waiting to see if it pups for you and in what timeframe before I attempt the same thing

 

Would also love to see an update on the one where you grafted several variegated areoles in place of areoles in the stock, if you see which one I'm talking about.

It most certainly will pup. Now, if I put Ga-3, BAP, or keikigrow on the areole it would most assuredly grow and pup faster. Often times, such chemicals are mixed with DMSO in gel form to ensure that it stays over the areole and does not run over onto the stock forcing the stock to grow instead of the areole in question.

 

The best way to learn to graft like this is  to practice yourself. Also, don't skimp on the basic tools. I rarely show all my tricks, but I do show enough that you should succeed. I will tell you three very basic tools that can be had very inexpensively to help  you with grafts such as this one... string, self adhesive coban, and parafilm.

 

String is good because it allows you to pull on different sides of the graft when it is small like this and really let you peer underneath the sides as you wrap to ensure you have a good connection. String is bad however as it does not stretch. As the graft dries out it loosens. This is why you must protect your graft from drying out too fast with this method. The string by itself may not be enough to hold it secure.

 

Coban, you can tear or cut this into very thin strips for use on this type of graft. I place it on after the string if I am going to use it and I highly recommend using it. Place this over such a graft in such as way as to firmly hold down the middle of the graft especially, but also the sides. A Simple "X" pattern is nice, but another thing strip through the middle of the X is often better. If you place an additional larger strip over the whole graft this can also hold in some  humidity and let your graft breath a little as well.

 

Parafilm, this helps hold in a bit more moisture so that a humidity dome is not needed. 

 

These steps alone will give you success. There are indeed better ways of doing it, but I'm not giving away all my techniques just yet. Some things I also feel are best learned from watching ones own failures. 

 

I believe I posted one  of my failed grafts here to show one of the pitfalls of grafting with crests somewhere on this forum. 

 

Before i forget, let me thank you MeanGreen for sharing your own grafts with the community. You are always teaching someone to include me when you do that so, I have to thank you for being willing to do that for us. Your not afraid of posting your failures just as I try to post some of my failures so you can see how to fix problems that might occur as well as figure out new ways of grafting. 

 

The number one cause of a graft like this not working is it drying out! The number 2 cause of a graft like this failing is infection. Place the eye of the areole over the ring itself when it is a single eye like this. Also, try to use a bigger eye. The bigger the eye the less it will dry out. Minimize the surface area of the areole that is cut and exposed to the air while it is healing.

 

Hope this extra bit of information helps you my friend.