Grafting with Household Supplies, Nothing Special Needed!

[@deborahevans4811]

I loved this, thank you. Tried repairing an accidental cut. Fingers crossed it takes. Love the re-use, recycle attitude.

[@dodaexploda]

I have looked up various grafting videos before, and this is possibly the most informative grafting video I've ever seen.

[@paultong4214]

I'm one of those people who tend to take instructions literally and as law, but this is fantastic because it's shown me that I don't have to stick to the letter when it comes to grafting like most other videos make you feel like you have to, thanks for breaking the mystery of grafting.

[@foreverjasxo8634]

Saved my monstera with your repair tips for bent stems!! Thanks man

[@NorAlb_Chainsaw_Carver]

The foreword about "accessorizing" is spot on. Great video

[@nathanchristopher8585]

Hell yeah - I am super stoked for your grafting videos now! I have absolutely loved all of your educational content over the years, you've taught me a lot!

[@jyang1711]

Simple, practical, and informative. THANKS for your advice

[@helmutprost9714]

Stevens insights are a rare source of wisdom.

[@emilymarthasorensen1516]

THANK YOU! I've been looking for advice exactly like this for ages. Clearly I should've looked on your channel first. I greatly admire how good you are at using whatever you have on hand. I want to be good at that, too.

[@rodprimrose4824]

Straight to the point and best demystification vid on the subject. Thanks

[@ts694]

Love your comments about accessorizing. I too have often marveled at the great paradox where the folks with the most amazing and valuable equipment often have the least skill or practice. It seems that folks that have the money to acquire the best tools never have the time to put them to good use. And the folks that have the time to develop amazing skill rarely have access to the best tools. Such is life.

[@SkillCult]

Sometimes gear and gearing up become an end in themselves. Also newcomers to something don't know what is possible and how important or not a particular tool or material is. I've been there. Sometimes too it's just fear making an excuse not to jump in and try stuff.

[@icryostorm3727]

All the gear and no idea.

[@deakemarschall2992]

What's that saying down in Texas....All Gear, No Cattle.....no that's not it...oh well,

[@disc4tw]

I have to say this might be the most empowering DIY video in general that I have come across on the internet. @SkillCult thank you for validating my pseudo-hoarding tendencies for keeping random wires and scrap metal around the house until I could figure out how to use them! Hope to see you over on Growing Fruit.

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, you know you might have to use that stuff someday.. for something...

[@tavyfavorite1149]

Thank you for sharing. This is the best info on KZbin.

[@olddave4833]

one point, the paper is easy to cut if the knife is sharp, if the knife is dull, forget it. great series. worth spending the winter watching several times. too much to learn and think you're an expert after watching once. I tried grafting for the first time a few yrs ago and had good luck, wish I had tried it fifty yrs ago and had these videos to watch first.

[@strive4impact]

Love love love this video. Great use of can lids and copper wire.

[@johnw614]

Hi Great videos and content on grafting. The couple videos I hae watched have been some of the most information packed that I've seen. Thank you very much for posting these. You have me motivated to do some grafting for the first time. I'm sure I will be back.

[@johnw614]

And, thank you fir keeping your introduction quick and no gimic. I love that you dont have ac30 sec musical jingle and videographic effects in the beginning and get right to the point. Imho, your videos should be a model of how to do a youtube. No fluff, just excellent information, and no begging for subscriptionn likes, or forced advertisements. Thank you again.

[@SkillCult]

I know right, those canned intros can be so long and dumb lol.

[@farisasmith7109]

Thank you so much for this video. I've been really trying not to get into buying a lot of tools in my amateur grafting attempts. I have all of these items and now I think I'm going to just get going.

[@andyssunshine]

This info is AMAZING! Thank you SO MUCH! I really appreciate your approach of using what you already have.

[@SkillCult]

You're welcome :)

[@CliffsidePermaculture]

This is excellent, thank you for putting this video together!

[@MILFSLAYER6969]

Love this vid! I'm super interested in this stuff, and haven't yet begun experimenting yet. I'm 24 and just got my first house. Just planted my first apple tree and stoked to get into it

[@SkillCult]

cool. check out my grafting series playlist. that apple tree could have 100 varieties on it one day! kzbin.info/aero/PL60FnyEY-eJAWNlofdsx0G81aycmAW1U8

[@esther.mathieu]

In the middle of the pandemic this video came in very very handy!!!

[@SkillCult]

People used to use cow poop and string, so there has to be stuff laying around the modern household that will work :)

[@hillbournesian]

As usual, a great and informative video! Looking forward to the grafting series. Maybe I can finally understand why so many of my grafts fail.

[@SkillCult]

Hopefully I can help. some things are harder than others and will have inevitable fails.

[@yangyuan9384]

thank you

[@jessipanda]

super informative, very simple, really really cool trick about the garden/shoe bags, love that I can reuse them! Thank you!

[@jessipanda]

dude and you just kept going with the aluminum plates and copper wire. Amazing ideas i'll use for the rest of my life

[@EdieBabeMonster]

Awesome video thanks a lot. Being a farm girl transplanted in a city I fully appreciate the sentiment of less is more and you can probably make do with whats on hand.

[@SkillCult]

I'm all about using what's on hand and not accessorizing too much.

[@whiteknight7wayne493]

ur very proficient and know ur subject ...very practical ...u deserve more views

[@SkillCult]

I'm not going to argue with you lol. I want to redo this video better and see if I can get YT to put it in front of more people.

[@galestanton8617]

Thank you!

[@skyhawkstarhopper1862]

So, so, so good! Thank you!

[@mmm053]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@debbiewood7718]

Not over accessorizing is great advice, particularly for the ADHD people in the crowd who love to try new things. Thank you for showing what can be submitted, that is not common knowledge.

[@lawrencengu9505]

Great practical advice, love everything you said in the video!!

[@dawnamerphotography5776]

Thank you for this video. Have my first house in Sweden and learning to graft for fruit tree fence. This helps so much!

[@SkillCult]

Excellent, good luck!

[@nmkzf]

Thank you, simple useful gives Why we do what we do

[@paulshizzledizzle6180]

Best advice ever!

[@kaydewinter3588]

very good video,very informative,thankyou

[@sunflowerbadger]

Fantastic. Thank you.

[@eddiesanchez9095]

LOVED your VIDEO!!! Thank You !!

[@SkillCult]

Thanks Eddie :)

[@davidhunt7519]

I did a bit of grafting with improvised items while visiting my parents this last May: pruning saw, kitchen knife sharpened on the bottom of a coffee cup, electrical tape. At least 1 cherimoya graft was successful!

[@SkillCult]

Awesome :)

[@2Birds1Stone_]

This is f awesome! Thank you!

[@russellhowe9631]

Great tips regarding plastic bag wraps, I used electric tape last year but for whatever reason the grafts never took. Good tip on sealing the scion too. I have made a load of labels out of aluminium cider can empties. I cut them out with scissors, lay them on a cloth to allow a bit of flexibility and emboss the lettering with a biro. I shall be stalking various gardens in search of scion wood cuttings and will be successful next year, because we are not at home to Mr. Doubtful🍎

[@SkillCult]

good luck this next season. I've used electrical tape successfully before, thogh it's not my favorite. I have a 10 video series on dormant stick grafting called grafting lessons. What species were you grafting?

[@russellhowe9631]

SkillCult It was a Victoria plum onto a wild damson that was already growing in the garden, and another VP onto a shop bought VP whose original graft had died off, but the shoots were growing fine beneath the graft. I am going to have a bash at growing extra root stocks from this plum this season and will retry grafting on what is left. I also have a shop bought cherry rootstock that I bought, planted but the graft failed but again has shorted up from the base so will try grafting again with some of my own scion wood and try rooting the cutting for future rootstock. If they take I will offer them to friends as I have no room for more trees in the garden or will release them out into the wild so as anyone passing can have a munch at the appropriate time of year lol! I just watched one of your grafting videos so will be cracking on with stuff. I only have one shop bought apple tree which is growing successfully, this will be its third season in the ground next year, I have most of my trees espaliered along the fence or I won’t have room to hang the washing out. I do want to squeeze a couple more apples in though so might try from rooted cuttings, I am in the fortunate position to be able to get plenty of scion material as I do a spot of gardening for folks and can take plenty of prunings home.

[@SkillCult]

@@russellhowe9631 I've never experienced it, but I have heard of incompatibility between plums can occur. Certainy by species, but by variety even. I don't think it's common, but if you fail consistently with that combo it's worth considering. Usually plums aren't too difficult to graft though, so you'll probably get it this year. Plums and pears are about the easiest probably.

[@russellhowe9631]

SkillCult Looking at the ones that failed with the leccy tape, I reckon I hadn’t done them tight enough, so air could have got to the cuts, also it was unusually dry and scorchio last summer in the south coast UK so the trees could have been quite stressed. Will be a bit more conscientious next time:-)

[@vulk86]

You brilliant man!

[@caloyabella]

Excellent 👍 i only have acrylic can I use that instead of latex paint?

[@miguelfelix6648]

I've been looking for this ,using simply household stuff nothing fancy just everyday items

[@crazybirdcamlady]

Thank you!!! ❤️

[@eliteagle75]

I use Teflon tape and it has work magnificent. This tape won’t let air in and this is what grafts need.

[@SkillCult]

I've always found it very hard to work with because it folds so easily. I like the stretch and pressure I can put on with thicker plastic tapes. I've never noticed a problem with graft healing at all. If the weather is warm, healing progresses very rapidly under the tape.

[@katieanneozarkhollowhomestead]

Thank you, what a great video! I just use stuff from around the house, but didn't know about all these options! I didn't now that grafting wax was basically thick paint. I want to try using plastic bags, as I've found the electrical tape does remove bark as you said, but I've only peeled it off, not cut.

[@SkillCult]

One guy told me he just wraps the electrical tape upside down. Eliza Greenman doesn't and says that is mostly what she uses. It only seems to take off a thin outside skin of the bark.

[@katieanneozarkhollowhomestead]

@@SkillCult thanks!

[@deakemarschall2992]

Great, timely video. I'll be attempting my first grafts tomorrow. When I decided a few weeks ago to try grafting I watched a bunch of vids and looked at the fancy tools. Luckily I held off buying anything. I did pick up a roll of parafilm at the scion exchange but now I think I'll just use a razor knife instead of getting something fancy. Looking forward to the series.

[@SkillCult]

Try to find a razor knife that is tight. The wobble can be a real pain in the super cheap flimsy ones. Pocket knives are great if you have one and can sharpen it. Practice on prunings till you can make clean flat cuts that fit together well and you should be good as long as the bark lines up.

[@projectmalus]

If you have to buy a knife then those Opinel carbon steel ones are cheap and more importantly are easy to get to a razor sharp edge. I got one for budding, cut about an inch off the end (to make it more of a sheepsfoot style) and made a bevel on one side, even left a little pokey bit for lifting bark. A #10 is a pretty good size. That parafilm sure doesn't last long out in the weather, but maybe I stretched it too much. One thing that helped me get a nice flat cut was to pull the elbow back 'like you were elbowing someone in the ribs' , advice from a 63impala2door video.

[@travisgessler6283]

I like the big silver razor knife because I have a few hand problems, and a bigger handle is much less painful for me

[@603chefmon]

just bought a silky saw through your amazon link. thank you for the vids

[@SkillCult]

Thanks. Great saw!

[@icryostorm3727]

silkys are great - I use a belt one/hand held for forestry work - a gomtara (?) on a pole for high pruning and i would really like a pocketboy - but that would be a luxury.

[@punkyroo]

Found one of your older videos researching if I could use plumbers Teflon tape for grafting. :)

[@SkillCult]

Cool :) . As for teflon tape, I've found it too fragile and it bunches up. You can use it, but plastic bag strips are great and you can wrap them tighter. If you ever want scion wood, hit me up and I'll hook you up!

[@reading2cheeses]

Last year, on a tip from one of your grafting videos, used garden soil bag plastic strips. Cut rubber bands to tie, scions with tips so there wasn't a cut at the end, no glue/coating, and worked well. A month ago used some Teflon tape to graft a twig at my parent's house and a strip of light plastic over the whole thing (before I saw you didn't much like plumbers tape)... It seemed to hold pretty well but time will tell

[@SkillCult]

If you can manage it and get it tight enough to not move, it's fine. I find it very hard to work with. expensive too.

[@peterlaidlaw8655]

Great .. any ideas on making cheap grafting was dip for hardwood out of parifin

[@LAlandlord]

I like it...to do a few grafts.

[@SkillCult]

I HAVE A WHOLE SERIES ON GRAFTING NOW --> kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaatcnaZqLSgg6s

[@JairoNSJ]

great video, many thanks

[@SkillCult]

You're welcome

[@nalingosalia7667]

grafting made simple , thanks

[@SkillCult]

You are welcome :)

[@lorrainemurji9768]

Is there something else I can use for label? Thanks I enjoyed your video.

[@alloveradro]

Hi there! Thanks for the informative video. I have wild rough lemon rootstock growing in my yard. I think it somehow made its way to my property from a neighbor’s lemon tree on the opposite side of a block wall. The rough lemon is very established, but the fruit, obviously, isn’t great. It has many shoots and branches so I thought I would use it to practice grafting. I’m using lime, a more desirable lemon, and orange scion wood. I used various grafting techniques seeing as this was a learning experience. I bark grafted, patch grafted and T-budded at various points, 6 in total. I wrapped with parafilm, but then covered with black electrical tape and aluminum foil over that. Rain was forecasted a couple of days after my graft work so I wanted to make sure things stayed protected and it felt like I’d need more holding power than the parafilm provided. That said, when should remove the electrical tape, especially over the bud grafts? I’d assume it will inhibit things if left on too long. Also, I’ve seen grafting examples where a bud is left uncovered and others where the wrap covers it completely. I went with the latter as I was concerned about the impending rain. Any advice?

[@SkillCult]

I would probably unwrap to just the parafilm and worry only about sun. Put some shade on the grafts until you see growth is the safest. Some just use paper bags tied over, or just shade the whole tree. Iv'e only grafted citrus by whip and tongue, using half ripe wood of the current season's growth, so like right now take this year's wood trim off the juicy green tip wood and all the leaves and graft. Good luck. Hopefully some will take. If you really think the rain could be a problem, maybe more parafilm, you can also use white glue or latex paint to seal where needed.

[@alloveradro]

SkillCult , Thanks so much! I actually did seal one bud graft with white craft glue as I placed it in a spot that was difficult to wrap without thinking about it.. I’m glad that’s an actual thing! I’ll unwrap the electrical tape and leave things with just the parafilm and a shade cover. Fingers crossed. Thanks, again!

[@MrMousedude]

someone suggested I try "rubber splicing tape", and I really like it. It's like electrical tape, but it's made of rubber. It has no adhesive, sticks and fuses to itself but not anything else, and it stretches and rebounds like a rubber band. It's almost like it was designed for grafting. It does need to be removed because it doesn't break down like a rubber band. A roll of 3M-Temflex 2155 costs about 4 bucks and will last a long time. I got mine at the local big-box hardware store.

[@SkillCult]

I've seen that stuff before. I have to cut the white budding tape usually too, but it's really good otherwise.

[@bertbert2725]

common safety ribbon (the plastic red/white or yellow/black stuff) is super cheap and comes in a roll that will last you for many years. and you can also use it to warn people about holes in the ground 😀

[@SkillCult]

I have used that quite a bit as well and used quite a bit this year.. A lot of it is textured, which makes it break more easily. I prefer some other materials, including the narrow white pvc budding tape. I wouldn't buy it just for grafting, but if its laying around, it usually works pretty well.

[@brandasar7913]

Such a wonderful video, very informative and helpful. I’m gonna start my practice now. Lol. Only question, is there a certain time of the year to graft? Thank you

[@SkillCult]

It depends on the type of grafting and plant. You need to look that information up for different situations. I do have a ten part series on grafting that you could check out. It basically deals just with what is called dormant grafting of fruit trees. kzbin.info/aero/PL60FnyEY-eJAWNlofdsx0G81aycmAW1U8

[@nickross133]

I just realized earlier today that it's scion collecting time again!

[@Pap3rPlanesss]

Thx for sharing ill be grafting Calamasi. Instead of wrapping the whole scion i can use a thin layer of glue? Ill be using electrical tape to secure the graft

[@SkillCult]

You can. It is probably not the best choice, but probably better than nothing.

[@Pap3rPlanesss]

@SkillCult ok I hope it survive with the thin layer. I seen that you layered your scion with glue. But overall glue is just to seal the cuts?

[@TravisHoeffel]

Could you do a good in depth video on sharpening. I have yet to find a good video that really gets the point across in an understandable way.

[@SkillCult]

That surprises me. I've not watched a lot of them, but sharpening seems so popular that it's almost like an end in itself. I do plan on doing some videos on sharpening theory at least, which honestly is more important than the physical implementation. If you understand how it works, you can adapt to what is available and achieve sharpness in many different ways. I may do a simple vid on sharpening grafting knives. I was working on a free or cheap book on sharpening, but actually finishing it doesn't look all that promising at this point.

[@deboramchaffie5091]

Can you use press and seal to graft with

[@SkillCult]

never heard of it. Lots of options here though.

[@BrodyToYou]

WWED? ( What Would Edholm Do?) Thanks for the video!

[@Erewhon2024]

Two questions: 1 do you have any information on the diffusion of ethene (aka ethylene, the"aging hormone" of plants) through (double sealed) plastic freezer bags? I don't have a fridge that has been dedicated free of fruit (in re scion storage). 2. What is your opinion of toilet gasket wax, perhaps softened by heat or heated with crisco etc then cooled, as a substitute for grafting wax? Since no one grafts here, but everyone has a toilet, it is easier to find in big box hardware stores. It seemed to work (as is) for sealing the wrap over (summer) budding wounds (on pear).

[@SkillCult]

No, I don't. I just shove everything in the same fridge and never had any problems. I haven't used that gasket wax. You can order the doc farwell's grafting paint online, but it's a too much for most people. You can also just use white glue or latex paint to seal the tip and scion. Id say try it, and if it stays on, it should work.

[@anamariasuar]

Love your video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Can you use plastic cling wrap from the kitchen for grafting purposes?

[@SkillCult]

Hi. I think you could get away with it. You'll just have to try it. The thing is that it's hard to work with since it clings to itself at every turn, so that could be a problem. I like thick plastic bags as well as anything and they are easy to work with. The common thick plastic bags that potting mix and manure comes in are usually very good for grafting.

[@SkillCult]

BTW, I have a whole series of videos on grafting now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaatcnaZqLSgg6s

[@triptendugohain5784]

I can see why this video has no dislikes 👌👌

[@SkillCult]

Ha, there's usually at least one! thanks :)

[@jayjohnson3724]

God I love you. You are a force for good in the world.

[@SkillCult]

I try :). thanks.

[@munchkin5674]

Can you use teflon tape as grafting tape?

[@SkillCult]

I've tried the plumbing stuff and it is very hard to work with, because it's so thin. If I recall right, it's also hard to get a good tight wrap because it's so thin. It's very fast to just cut some strips of thick plastic bag, and most people have that around. I think you could make it work, but it's quite expensive and not ideal in my experience.

[@danielbtwd]

i bet the woodpeckers were pissed that you messed with their stuff. Thanks nice video, I will be doing this too for the first time soon. Can't wait to get started. Almonds, apples, olives and grapes. One question, its winter (mediteranean), can i cut scions and graft them now, or do I need to wait until spring?

[@SkillCult]

You can graft them now, but I usually don't start till March. This is a good time to cut them, just make sure you store them carefully so they don't dry out. I have a 10 part series on that kind of dormant grafting. Olives are probably better chip budded. Watch the video I did last summer on chip budding with Mark Albert. that's the best way he's found to do olives. Almond scions tend to dry out. They also break dormancy early. Cut them by late January and take good care of them. Graft them as soon as they start to push buds a little. Even so, they will often fail. Chip budding might. be a good option for them too because of that, but you will get some takes with dormant scion grafting if you are persistent.

[@danielbtwd]

@@SkillCult very much appreciated thank you.

[@uniteamerica9446]

Scrap pieces of greenhouse plastic will probably work.

[@EricBrossard]

How long you wait to scare or remove the plastic bag stripe before it stangle the plant???

[@SkillCult]

It depends on how much the plastic stretches. I try to check them in July and unwrap if necessary. If it stretches a lot, you can sometimes just leave it. Or, unwrap and re-wrap it again until the end of the season.

[@MattyDemello]

Thanks. You earned a sub from me.

[@icryostorm3727]

would tree sap work for sealing? ie - collecting pine sap. and re using it.

[@SkillCult]

I'm sure it would. I don't recall using straight pitch on any, but I would certainly try it. I know I've used it for wound sealing on fruit trees.

[@icryostorm3727]

my father ran a tree nursery for many years so ive seen quite a bit - but i myslef have no inetention currently ( ive got enough of the fruit trees to prune as it is :D BUt as always with your videos you just have to sit and learn - its is a rare and valuable talent.

[@sangitagupta2393]

Would masking tape work for grafting ?

[@SkillCult]

Possibly, but it's not a very good choice. It's better to have something that stretches and conforms to odd shapes. Electrical tape would be better, or strips of plastic bag.

[@sangitagupta2393]

@@SkillCult I've wrapped plastic strips on top of the masking tape. The idea is for no water and no air to get to the graft, right ?

[@SkillCult]

@@sangitagupta2393 it is best to keep rain out and moisture in for sure. the other very important thing is keeping it from moving while it heals the tissue is very delicate, so it can't move at all. Something that stretches, like a strip of plastic, can hold it tight and keep moisture in or out too.

[@romancanul1600]

How much percent to that type of grafting is effective grafting? Do the wood glue really works? What else can I use to cover my grafting

[@SkillCult]

I don't really understand the question. If you mean how many of the grafts are successful, it depends on the type of fruit tree and the quality of the scion wood. Wood glue is not the best. Latex paint is probably better. Traditionally wax, pine sap and oils were usually mixed together and applied while warm.

[@romancanul1600]

@@SkillCult can I graft mangoes on a lime tree

[@SkillCult]

@@romancanul1600 No, only same species or closely related

[@romancanul1600]

I have tried your grafting techniques and only one lime tree that I put on top of a sour orange tree is starting to blossom

[@junysgr]

Do we need to keep it in freezer of fridge

[@SkillCult]

If you mean Scions, in the fridge. If they freeze, they die.

[@junysgr]

SkillCult that means we got to keep them cool but not to freeze... so I am supposed to keep them in the bottom of fridge away from freezer

[@deakemarschall2992]

What do you recommend to clean grafting tools? I've heard alcohol, weak bleach, and others.

[@danieljonasson7589]

My vote is for denatured alcohol. It's cheap, you find it everywhere and it's excellent at removing resins. I use it to clean saws, axes and knives with good results.

[@SkillCult]

I actually had alcohol and peroxide out on the table to talk about, but totally forgot. I use the common 3% hydrogen peroxide in a small spray bottle, or rubbing alcohol. I know a lot of people use alcohol too. There are these small glass spray bottles that herbal remedies sometimes come in used for throat sprays and such. I use those since they make a really fine mist and can coat the clipper blades with one or two pumps. They also don't leak and fit in my pocket.

[@GraniteValleyDave]

Hey Steven, I'm getting ready to do some grafts in the next few weeks and was looking for some sort of sealer like doc farwells. In Australia it seems like a lot of them are bituminous, do you have any thoughts on that?

[@SkillCult]

I haven't used those much. I don't see why they wouldn't work, unless the heat they gather is a problem. I've used latex paint,b ut it's not a rubbery and stretchy as doc farwells. You could use the black stuff and then paint over it to reflect light maybe?

[@trollforge]

I read that commercial grafting tape is exactly the same as Glad sandwich wrap, but Saran wrap isn't as good for grafting.

[@SkillCult]

I don't know. I usually use the white budding tape shown here. I just got some new biodegradable tape and it's more like cling wrap. it's hard to work with though because it sticks to itself constantly.

[@trollforge]

SkillCult, you wouldn't believe what a relief it is to hear someone, who actually knows what they are doing, say that! YES it is very difficult to work with! I have had succes with electrical tape, but I was told I shouldn't use that...

[@markc7842]

Thank you, is grafting homone necessary ?

[@SkillCult]

I've never even heard of grafting hormone actually.

[@keenang4705]

@@SkillCult same same as rooting hormone and I remember reading a study online that it significantly increases the likelihood of the scion surviving the graft

[@geriannroth449]

​@Keenan G interesting so how do you apply the rooting hormone to the scion prior to grafting?

[@LolitasGarden]

What about beeswax? I have quite a bit left over from being a terrible beekeeper. Wondering if I can parlay that into being a terrible orchardist. Thanks for the tips and the reassurance that buying gear isn't step one.

[@SkillCult]

I didn't mention wax, because it's hard to use on it's own unless you can dip the scion in it. most of the old grafting wax recipes were used hot and had a special heater can that you carried around to keep it hot. They are generally various mixes of beeswax, pitch and fat.

[@therawlifefamily]

I've used electrical tape, splicing tape, grafting tape, grafting wax, an xactor knife, a utility knife and pocket knife all with decent results.

[@SkillCult]

Good to hear. I've use a lot of different stuff too. I like my grafting knife, but it's hardly necessary.

[@rvk671]

Is cut paste (used after pruning on wounds ) and grafting wax same ?

[@SkillCult]

It's not the same, but people do use wound paint for grafting sometimes.

[@rvk671]

SkillCult beewax- will it serve the purpose ?

[@rvk671]

or I think if ill mix tad amt of bee fax in wound paint tht ll become grafting wax

[@SkillCult]

Beeswax and parafin are both very brittle. They work okay if you can figure out how to apply them and then don't disturb them too much. Some bench grafters dip the entire scion and graft into molten parafin. I have had poor luck using it at home since it has to be hot. Most old recipes with wax use fats to soften them. Look up old recipes for grafting wax. They are usually some combination of pitch, wax and fat. Most were used hot in a can with a burner carried around the orchard, though some I think were heated by working in the hands.

[@rvk671]

SkillCult But eventually what is the need to apply grafting wax when we have tightnd the joint wd stretcheble tape , i dont think any moisture will pass after overlapping 5-6 layers of tape

[@DavidWestBgood2ppl]

Hey Steven, Sent you a PM and Link to see the crabapple tree that we talked about. Thanks!

[@Anson120]

I use flint or broken glass when gardening. I have a bunch of knives and I always forget to bring them. The native ghosts laugh when I use a knife. They say "dumbass white boy needs a knife" "we never had knives" "look what we did without"

[@SkillCult]

Having used a lot of stone tool, I'd prefer not to graft with them, but it's an interesting challenge...

[@alexandramaymi75]

Thank you so much for this! My ethos exactly for new projects. Get the momentum and the practice going and invest later if the momentum continues.

[@SkillCult]

Yeah right!? Another thing people do is talk up their plans constantly and it ends up being a substitute for actually doing it. Dreams require action. Less talk, less accessorizing, more action :)

[@cloacalmiracle9566]

milk glue and sawdust seems to have worked well filling that crack eh

[@SkillCult]

So far so good. I picked at it a little today and it seems pretty durable. Haven't really dug at it yet or anything.

[@mytech6779]

Way easier to buy tags then search for a print shop or collect dozens of can lids, Otherwise good tips. personally I would get use a fixed blade paring knife before the swiss army knife but only because I don't trust the strength of their folding bits.

[@SkillCult]

but if you get printing plates once, you can be set for 10 years. I use them for seedlings in the greenhouse and all kinds of stuff. they won't be availbale soon though anyway.

[@GraniteValleyDave]

Hey Steven, do you ever sell apple seeds internationally? I'd love to get any red fleshed apple seeds, or wickson seeds but can't get them in Australia. I know the whole spiel about how apple seeds aren't true, but there's no harm in giving it a go. Just thought I'd ask. Cheers.

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, I sent some to Australia this year actually. maybe next year I'll sell apple seeds again. At this point, there isn't much left. I may also have intentional crossed seed for sale in the future, which will be much cooler than open pollinated, though more expensive too

[@GraniteValleyDave]

Awesome, I'll definitely keep my eye out if you start selling more. Intentionally crossed seeds sounds really interesting, I'll have to do some reading on that sort of thing. I only really started getting into gardening in the last 18 months so I have lots to learn.

[@SkillCult]

Just saying, I'd know what both parents are. That's gives us better odds at getting good apples, and for increasing odds of specific traits. Open pollinated, you only know one parent.

[@GraniteValleyDave]

Ah that makes sense. Yeah well definitely let me know when more seeds are available! Thanks mate.

[@suleymanmemis1881]

good but we cant see that what you use 1- elmers .... awberry

[@geniusnocopyrightmusic9368]

Can I use cling film or normal tape instead of grafting tape

[@SkillCult]

You can, but clingwrap is really hard to work with because it sticks to itself Someone was just telling me they use electrical tape upside down. Everyone has plastic bags though and they work great if you get the right thickness.

[@AbdulRauf-mb3ip]

شہباز شریف اگر اندر ہے تو درانی صاحب جیسے لوگ باہر ہیں درانی صاحب کہتے ہیں کہ عدالتیں این آر او چوروں کو دے رہی ہیں

[@paulshizzledizzle6180]

Accessorising is terrible