I have been attempting to graft citrus trees onto one another for this past year. There is a lemon tree, a finger lime tree, and a grapefruit tree. I have them growing in a greenhouse where they seem to be happy. I have mostly been grafting into the lemon tree where a use a sharp knife chop it, slice the tree put it back together with grafting tape and tin foil to protect it from sun and then it promptly dies (within a week or two). Any ideas as to what I am doing fundamentally wrong? I have recently had trouble with fungus but mostly the scion just starts browning from the graft point and the rootstock’s cut heals too quickly. Any help is appreciated and I’d be glad to answer any questions!
by Nigle_The_Xero
1 Comment
So Im no expert, but it looks like your are going too deep, esp on that one that is just in the middle of the root stock .
The cambium (the thin layer of green tissue around the outside of the branches) of the rootstock and Scion are the portions that actually combine to complete the graft.
Your goal is to get as much cambium to cambium contact as possible.
My advice is to cut shallower, and really think about this as your goal. Also, I found it really helpful to try the exact same approach over and over until I succeeded, refining my approach each time.