I think scottfsmith is correct about the different formulations. What I used ended up being slack wax. I’m not going to mess with any toilet wax again as it’s severly damaged my trees and will be losing an entire year of growth as I can’t keep these sickly grafts
2 Likes
I appreciate you letting us know. I will avoid it in the future too. Not worth messing with something that can create problems like that.
JOhn S
PDX OR
1 Like
Nice grafts, are they all bark or did you do a cleft by cutting into the wood? Will you secure them as well? On those trees I had done 3 bark grafts on each but the wind ended up snapping them off. I secured the strongest growers
I use duct sealant that is similar to plasticine. Get at Menards. I have started using spray shellac instead of parafilm to preserve moisture in the scion when the graft is finished. I mostly use cleft grafts.
2 Likes
Those are bark grafts. I will put up a deer cage around it and that will also support the grafts. Deer probably won’t munch on them since they are not pawpaw fans but I have the cages and use them on all my grafts.
1 Like
I’ve never had issues using toilet wax… I’ve been using the same stuff for years though. I really only use it if the grafted piece is so flimsy I cannot wrap it with parafilm effectively.
I did learn that the liquid electrical tape stuff will actually dissolve parafilm, so don’t use those together. Fyi
4 Likes
Do you mind sharing the brand or ingredients listed on the package of the wax I’ll compare it to the one I used
I moved it into a small container when I purchased it and didnt keep the original box, sorry. It was the cheapest stuff they had at menards I know…
1 Like
I know folks who’ve used toiletbowl wax successfully for years. There must be variations.
As far as what’s best, my vote goes to plasticine. My bark graft success rate is near 100% since I switched from petroleum based tree wound sealer to plasticine.
People should use what works best for them and what they have confidence in.
1 Like
do you have instructions for this somewhere or pictures? Im not familiar with plasticine…
ok, ill have to scroll back, I probably havent read the whole thread, they get kinda long.
Thanks
1 Like
If I could ever remember in a bind I’ll try some silicone. It’s 100% water tight and think it’s considered food safe so doubt there could be much toxins to hurt the tree.
1 Like
I use this or similar (there is a variant with copper)
and also this, my homemade “grafting wax”; since it’s thicker, I use it for larger gaps (cleft graft). Ingredients: pine resin, beeswax, oil, ethanol (you adjust the thickness with oil and ethanol)
3 Likes
I’m not good at linking stuff when using my phone. If you search “plastilina” or “plasticine” it should shorten the reading.
2 Likes
I’ve used silicone caulk a few times. Seemed to work well. Messy without a brush, though.
2 Likes
When I run out of the swiss stuff that is no longer available I will probably just get a tube of lac balsam, which is very popular in Europe including as a graft sealant and made of natural tree resins. I’m really surprised if not one else hear hasn’t already mentioned it as a grafting compound because the version that comes in a tube is extremely convenient and it dries into a supple coating that won’t crack. I don’t think buds can push through it though, I use the expensive Japanese version of parafilm for that and just put a dab of sealant of the tip for overkill. Amazon.com
3 Likes
Modeling clay from walmart Im thinking is the same or similar to plasticine, its got latex in it according to the package…
2 Likes
Let’s try this.
This is what I bought.
3 Likes
Yeah I saw that on amazon also, but I was at walmart and found this other stuff and it was cheap so Ill give it a shot, see what happens
3 Likes