Graft of the day

[Inyan]

21 minutes ago, Humbolt said:

Yep, now i get it.  Thanks mate, vids were really helpful. Parafilm is very different to the grafting tape i used (stretch). Does it have pores/ holes when stretched?  I assume things would vary with stock and conditions but how long would you leave it on generally?

Just ebay'd me a couple of rolls, cant wait to get my graft on.

 

Parafilm breathes, but also holds in moisture so you never have to worry about your scion drying out. You never have to worry about your scion lifting off. 

 

As for length to leave parafilm on. You never have to remove it as the seedling will grow right through the top of it if you stretch it properly before placing it over your seedling.

 

However, I often remove the parafilm a bit after the seedling has started to grow and before the seedling reaches the full diameter of the stock it is placed on. This takes a little skill, but mostly patience so you don't knock your newly grafted scion free from its attachment points to the stock. 

 

If you decide you wish to remove the parafilm... slice downwards, never upwards. Make one long vertical cut down the side. Several small horizontal cuts around the perimeter of your graft at the points furthest from the point or points of attachment. Gently peel back and to the sides at the bottom of the stock where the parafilm is attached. Never rush it. It is far better to leave your parafilm in place, but mostly cut off than risk pulling the scion free from the graft. The scion will often finish the job for you if you simply leave it alone once started.

 

If you have any problems whatsoever, feel free to shoot me a copy of the video should you chose to make one and I will see what you did wrong or give you a heads up that I think from what I can see that it looks good. Failing that, I can also  look at pictures and help from that standpoint as well. 

 

My intended goal is to make you at least as good a grafter as I am should you be willing to put in a minimal amount of effort and actually wish for the same.

 

Tips never hurt.

[Inyan]

This is how I often prepare my Pereskiopsis for grafting... in seed trays...Use the tallest Pereskiopsis for grafting first as this will allow the shorter ones to catch up. As they reach the same height... graft more seedlings. In this way, you can graft as many cacti as you have seedling cells in your seed tray. 

[Humboldt]

Great info Inyan, once i get some pereskiosis Ill get practising.  Will be sure to run it by you for tips and advice. Thanks for taking the time.

Much appreciated

[Inyan]

16 hours ago, Humbolt said:

Great info Inyan, once i get some pereskiosis Ill get practising.  Will be sure to run it by you for tips and advice. Thanks for taking the time.

Much appreciated

 

A little practice each day or a lot of practice each day... but the important part is consistency and watching what works and what doesn't.  Examine your grafts each day to learn from them, but do not go tinkering with them after the initial graft is done.

 

You initial piece of parafilm for  a pereskiopsis graft should be no larger than 2.54 cm and even that may be excessive. 

 

Use that to wrap your stock

Place your scion like so. Notice the scions placement in relation to the ring? Off center is generally best.

 

Grab another piece of parafilm the same size or smaller, stretch it tissue paper thin if you can. Slow and gentle with the stretching.

 

Cover your seedling with that thin parafilm. Do not put a second layer over it

 

Now, there is no need for humidity domes or changing of ones watering cycle. If anything, water heavily during this grafting process, after the grafting, etc. You may keep your stock and scion under the same light you had it under before. No need to move to shade if you were growing in full sun before.

[Inyan]

Or, if you would rather graft your seedling to Trichocereus..

.Wrap it.

Tap it

And send it on its way

 

Your end result in just a few months time

[Inyan]

Almost forgot, here she is again today

 

22 July 2018

 

25 Days old

[Inyan]

Update for you guys...26 days old

23July 2018 

 

I thought I would share this sideways grafted seedling for you... needless to say it was not on purpose.

 

I was having some mild familial seizures while grafting and I just can't stand not grafting once I set my mind to it... so this sideways graft resulted. Normally, I will stop grafting or pick another day at the first sign that this is happening, but with just a few grafts to do... I couldn't help myself. And no, I would not graft on a day like that if I were grafting several hundred seedlings. I'd do the smart thing and wait for the seizures to end.

 

Okay, without further ado... here she is

Edited July 23, 2018 by Inyan

[Inyan]

27 days old 

24 July 18

Babies are being born!

 

Each baby represents another opportunity for grafting of course.

[Inyan]

28 Days old

25 July 2018

[Inyan]

29 days old

 

26 July 2018

[Gimli]

Bridgesii x SS02. Thanks @Inyan for the inspiration to try parafilm

 

[Inyan]

14 hours ago, Gimli said:

Bridgesii x SS02. Thanks @Inyan for the inspiration to try parafilm

 

 

From what I can tell, you made this a little harder than it had to be by using such a large seedling, but I also see what appears to be perfect technique so I'll go ahead and predict 99.99% success on this one. Not having to worry about knocking over that graft or putting it in a humidity chamber is another nice plus.

 

Very nice work my indeed my friend. There is nothing I like to see more than a successful graft. Its the greedy nature in me that figures... the more grafts the more eye candy to share.

 

 

 With that being said,

Day 34

31July 2018 And a few trays of some hopefully interesting hybrids have been grafted today as well.

 

[Gimli]

3 hours ago, Inyan said:

 

From what I can tell, you made this a little harder than it had to be by using such a large seedling, but I also see what appears to be perfect technique so I'll go ahead and predict 99.99% success on this one. Not having to worry about knocking over that graft or putting it in a humidity chamber is another nice plus.

 

Very nice work my indeed my friend. There is nothing I like to see more than a successful graft. Its the greedy nature in me that figures... the more grafts the more eye candy to share.

 

 

 With that being said,

Day 34

31July 2018 And a few trays of some hopefully interesting hybrids have been grafted today as well.

 

 

Wouldn't a bigger scion be better since it would have a bigger vascular ring and higher chance of success? or am I missing something?

 

I might have a few smaller seedlings so I'll do some others and report back

[bardo]

Great stuff Inyan, due to the colour of that graft i would have been concerned about how much sun it is getting but seems to be just fine and cranking : )

[Inyan]

22 hours ago, Gimli said:

 

Wouldn't a bigger scion be better since it would have a bigger vascular ring and higher chance of success? or am I missing something?

 

I might have a few smaller seedlings so I'll do some others and report back

 

A bigger scion might fit perfectly on top and thus the scions vascular ring could entirely miss the vascular ring of the stock. Essentially sitting on top with the vascular ring either on the outside or the inside of the opposing growth ring. 

 

In reality, grafting a seedling such as this on the side of the scion virtually assures that there will be at least one if not two points of contact and thus a graft is almost 100% assured. However, for those less coordinated, this little trick will help keep your seedlings from sliding around thus assuring you have a good connectionJust don't forget to wrap it before you tap it As you can see, i also water my grafts on the day they are made as well as days prior and so on as I want my grafts to grow fast. 

 

Still, you may find you want to graft your young seedlings sideways. You won't have a vascular ring to contend with on your scion that way... you will have vascular lines, as in two lines, that you can simply place over your ring.

Edited August 2, 2018 by Inyan

[Inyan]

21 hours ago, bardo said:

Great stuff Inyan, due to the colour of that graft i would have been concerned about how much sun it is getting but seems to be just fine and cranking : )

 

Fine and cranking is an understatement my friend. If my grafted seedlings aren't purple at this stage I know I'm not pushing them hard enough.35 days old 1 August 2018

[Inyan]

37 days old... starting to get used to the full sun...

3 August 2018

[Inyan]

40 days old 

6 August 18

[Inyan]

9 August 2018

43 Days old

A friend told me they had achieved 93%+ success by grafting with parafilm. So, stoked to see some are getting that particular grafting style down pat.

 

Now If we can start seeing some more grafting pictures....

[Inyan]

48 days old... and a nice hybrid cousin

[Inyan]

Parafilm splitting... this is how seedlings penetrate

[Inyan]

On 7/21/2018 at 3:13 PM, Humbolt said:

Yep, now i get it.  Thanks mate, vids were really helpful. Parafilm is very different to the grafting tape i used (stretch). Does it have pores/ holes when stretched?  I assume things would vary with stock and conditions but how long would you leave it on generally?

Just ebay'd me a couple of rolls, cant wait to get my graft on.

Examples of how long I leave my parafilm on... Here you can see I forgot to remove the parafilm altogether Aesthetically speaking... removing the parfilm in a three weeks from this stage would be perfect for me

 

[Inyan]

This one is just bursting out of its parafilm hymen and already nice and cherry red for @bardo and @Gimli. Thought the two of you might appreciate this one. 

[bardo]

Thanks inyan, i do appreciate it but not as much as i appreciate the way you wonderfully creative,descriptive and vaginal  way in which you describe it, so poetic : ) 

[Inyan]

Some more hybrids.... yeah, I love em purpleor red. Provides some detail if you notice the cut going down the side on this own... that shows you the line I sometimes make to remove the parafilm. You can see however, it is definitely not necessary to remove the parafilm so early.