Thread Graft Story

agraham

I bought this "Golden Gate" ficus a number of years ago in a 4" pot....i planted it and let it grow in a 15 gallon pot, half full of soil so that the base was in shade amd high humidity....as you can see...this micro environment induced numerous aerial roots around the base.

Attached Images

dscn4666 copy.jpg (70.6 KB, 224 views)

Advertisement

agraham

Last year,i decided that i had let the trunk get away from me.....no movement,no taper on the upper part....so i airlayered it http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthr...=&threadid=6652

i had some rooted cuttings(taken from this same tree) in 4" pots and chose to make a thread graph in the spot and direction i wanted the apex to continue

i could have waited and hoped the tree would bud out in the right place,but thought i would have more control over placement this way.

after about 6 weeks,i could tell the thread graft had taken and cut it away from the "mother plant"(4" pot)....after about another 2 weeks,the graft started swelling on the exit side of the trunk and then began to put out aerial roots..you can see them in this picture...and there are more extending down the back of the trunk

Attached Images

dscn4664 copy.jpg (69.6 KB, 204 views)

agraham

I've been wondering whether the graft was receiving its nourishment from the trunk (graft) or from the aerial roots

this week i got my answer.....the graft is growing rapidly and has actually split the wood(trunk) behind the exit (and arial roots)

i guess i'll have to wait and see if this causes an ugly deformed union because the graft is actually starting to bulge out from the original airlayer scar.maybe i tried to cut it a little too close

oh well,live and learn

andy

Attached Images

dscn4663 copy.jpg (72.4 KB, 200 views)

jeremy_norbury

You've seen "Alien", right?

__________________

All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
I told you I was ill. Spike Milligan's Gravestone