Hibiscus: first grafting attempt, 1 by blupit007

blupit007 wrote:
Hi all,

Help!!! I just got a wonderful root stock plant from Patrick to try to graft my Silver Memories cutting I got from Dee. Thank you both, you are so generous! I cut the root stock in a bunch of pieces and stuck them in dirt as the plant was huge! (cutting off my knuckle in the process) Im all stiched up and now want to give it a go. Questions:

1: The SM cutting is much skinnier then the root stock base. Should I graft it to the rooted base anyway? Or should I graft it to one of the cuttings I made out of the root stock plant that is the same diameter (although it is not yet rooted)?

2: I don't have the proper tools. Chris sent me a link to a video that Dick Johnson did on grafting. Very informative! He didn't use wax or any tools that is suggested. He said you can use plumbers teflon tape and a clothes pin. I went to the hardware store and bought just that. Being my first time, do you think I should use a box cutter, plumbers tape, & a clothes pin? Or should I wait and use the wax?

3: I also lover the grafting tool Dick used in his video. It cost $70, does anyone know of a good source that sells these cheaper? Or does anyone have a used one they would like to sell to me?

First is a photo of cutting and rooted root stock