What wrap is best for grafting skinny scions onto 1/4" rootstock rubber tape or rubber bands and parafilm?
I’m a beginner at grafting. I’m going to cleft graft skinny apple scions onto 1/4" rootstock. What wrap works best? To wrap graft with parafilm then a rubber band over that or is rubber splicing tape better and easier? Then should I place a clear plastic bag over it to keep in moisture ?
I did these last spring… wrapped from graft union to scion tip with parafilm… in the graft union area multiple wraps… but up above only one layer over buds.
Then went over the graft union area a few more times with rubber electrical tape to pull that nice and tight.
All 4 took and did well.
Good luck.
Thanks for the advice
Hi, I’m beginner too. This year I used Parafilm and then Templex 2155. So far I have no failure with apple scions yet.
I also use parafilm then warp with electrical tape.
I wish I knew how to warp.
The graft used is arguably just as important as the way it is wrapped. Sometimes it makes more sense to do a 3 flap graft when the scion is in the size range described. I used a bunch of whip and tongue yesterday with similar size differences on my apple trees. I also used cleft grafts in a few cases where the stock was 3/8 inch or a tad more. A cleft graft is arguably more forgiving when there are large differences between scion and rootstock.
If you have Parafilm M, You can just use that.
I just use only Parafilm M. No electrical tape or rubber tape. And it works fine.
Wrapping the grafting union spot ~5 times. Even makes it strong enough that a bird can land on it. If wrapped properly (stretching the parafilm while wrapping. Not pre-stretching it)
you can wrap it way more than 5 times with Parafilm M. Or wrap over the Parafilm M with other tape. But than you have to make a vertical cut over the wrapped area end of summer or next dormant season to release the tape and not girdle the graft.
When just using exclusively parafilm M you can just “set and forget”
thanks
thank you for the advice
thank you for the help
is this the same tape you used?
is this the correct rubber tape?
For those of us with backyard orchards, this size and width of Temflex is sufficient.
.
There are a lot of parafilm out there. 3 M is a very good one. You can split it in half, length-wise.
This 3M Scotch “rubber” 2242 tape works great. They have it at my nearest Lowes store… but do not have the Temeflex. I tried it and it works great. It will give you a nice tight stretch where you need it.
With 1/4 inch rootstock and skinny apple scions … dont think bark graft would be possible.
I love bark graft where possible… if you had half inch or larger rootstock… yes bark graft.
With 1/4 inch rootstock and even smaller diameter apple scions… cleft… or possibly modified cleft may be the best type of graft to use ???
I have done several modified cleft grafts this year and they have all worked perfectly. Mod cleft is good choice when the diameter of your scion is smaller than your rootstock… and your rootstock is not large enough to bark graft.
When using the rubber tape over paradigm M I always cut it into thinner strips lengthwise, cutting it in half for pencil thick stock and into thirds or even quarter width strips for really skinny stock. The thinner strips of rubber tape let you still get a good stretch without having to pull too hard against the tender small wood.
Are you a spelling teacher?
if there is a size mismatch between stock and scion. You could use the modified cleft like TNHunter suggested.
But i personally do almost exclusively chip budding.
-It works both when the scion is thicker or thinner than the stock.
-It uses very little scion wood.
-You can do multiple grafts on 1 rootstock. (backups or multiple varieties)
-once you practise a little it’s a fast graft
-little chance of damage/knocking the graft loose from birds or transport after bench grafting.
-easy to wrap, since the grafting “style” keeps the scion bud in place.
These pictures are from dubbel chip bud grafts. (to get 2 opposite side branches on the same spot, for espalier tree’s)
this video is nice if you want to learn to chip bud
Nice knife work👍
