Here's some of grafting secrets revealed for the first time...LOL..shhh don't tell anyone..LOL
Bruno's Brug Grafting Method
(What you'll need:)
Most of these are things which you may find around your house but can be substitued for something that works similarly!
1.Razor Sharp Blade/Scalpel/Stensil Knife.
2.Pipe Joint Tape = soft stretchable self clinging tape used to make screw in pipe joints water tight. (Thanks to CC I now know that this is called "teflon tape for the threads on pipes". Thanks CC)
3.Vaseline/petroleum Jelly.
4.Rooting Hormone liquid.
(What to do:)
-First decide on which plant you want for your rootstock (the base/rooted part) and also decide on the plant from which you want to obtain a scion (top part of the graft which will grow to form the top growth of your graft)!
-Obtain a scion from the plant which you wish to be the top growth by useing your blade to take a cutting a few inches in length. Remove all leaves and soft growth with your blade. Also with your blade, cleanly cut the end of your cutting into a 2 inch long V shape. This cutting is now a prepared Scion. Leave this prepared scion to soak totaly submerged in Rooting Hormone liquid.
-While your prepared scion is soaking, select where on the rootstock you would like your scion to be grafted to! First choose a branch on your rootstock that is of a similar thinkness, or thicker than your scion! Try choose a branch on your that's not too old and woody or not too young and green as these areas can be tough to work with. In my experience with brugmansia grafting, a flexible but ripe stem has been the easiest part to use as a rootstock for this method!
-Once you've made your choice on which branch or area you are going to use, remove most of the larger leaves from that branch with your blade! If there is also very soft new growth on this branch, cut the growths back to a couple of inches or to where they begin to firm up, and seal the wounded ends with vaseline.
- Where you want your scion to be, use your blade to make a diagonal cut, about 2 Inches in lenght, down into the rootstock branch (See picture). Never cut too deeply, a cut 1 quater tway into the stem is enough! Pour some rooting hormone liquid on the wounds!
- Now, retrieve your prepared scion from which you have soaking in Rooting hormone! Fully insert the V end of your scion in the diagonal cut you've just made on your roots stock! Hopefully they'll be a perfect fit! Bind the joined areas together tightly but not too tighly with teflon Pipe joint tape. Rub vaseline over the bandaged area and lightly all over the scion to prevent waterloss!
(*Ta-Daaa*)
Your graft is complete and should begin to callus and join within a couple of weeks depending on Temperatures!
*Note: Be careful, Sharpe tools can be dangerous. Take head of any precautions written on your Rooting hormone liquid bottle. Avoid putting your face too close to your brug when makeing a cut!
Whew, That took longer than I thought, I'm so late...Lorraine's gonna kill me! LOL
Bye folks,
Best wishes always,
Bruno
This message was edited Sunday, Mar 9th 1:41 PM
