Cut paste Alternatives.

[Andrew F]

Carrying over from Pups thread on using pure honey for propagation: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=67

I got to thinking about the use of bee's wax as apposed to commercial cut paste.

Has anyone tried bee's wax or anything else as an alternative????

[Chris H]

I've used wood putty once, didn't seem to hurt

[Dario]

Hi VS, I haven't tried bees wax but I have used candle wax as well as vaseline. Both have worked well for me. I ran out of Japanese cut paste (kional...spelling?) and got lazy about getting some more until I needed something urgently and that is when I tried the candle wax and vaseline.
I had heard that vaseline can come off in the rain, but it hasn't been an issue for me at all.
I was worried about the heat of the melted candle wax damaging the exposed cambium, but that too has not been a problem. Although it does take time to apply and until you work out a good way to put it on (which takes a little bit of trial and error and inventiveness), it can be messy.
This season I will try foil on larger cuts to see if it helps seal the wound flat and also putty.
You can also google recipes to make your own cut paste for both liquid and putty based types. Some people think it is silly making your own when you can purchase it instead, much like making your own fertilizer cakes.
Cheers, Dario

[Andrew F]

I've used wood putty once, didn't seem to hurt

Thank you for the tip Hartos. Ill look into it further.

Hi VS, I haven't tried bees wax but I have used candle wax as well as vaseline. Both have worked well for me. I ran out of Japanese cut paste (kional...spelling?) and got lazy about getting some more until I needed something urgently and that is when I tried the candle wax and vaseline.
I had heard that vaseline can come off in the rain, but it hasn't been an issue for me at all.
I was worried about the heat of the melted candle wax damaging the exposed cambium, but that too has not been a problem. Although it does take time to apply and until you work out a good way to put it on (which takes a little bit of trial and error and inventiveness), it can be messy.
This season I will try foil on larger cuts to see if it helps seal the wound flat and also putty.
You can also google recipes to make your own cut paste for both liquid and putty based types. Some people think it is silly making your own when you can purchase it instead, much like making your own fertilizer cakes.
Cheers, Dario

Hi Dario,

Do you have any pics of the cuts before and after???


Im going to attempt a few large trunk chops in the next grow season, reason ill be using beeswax is the natural healing properties:

As a thickener and emulsifier commonly found in salves and lotions, beeswax reduces inflammation, softens skin, and has antioxidant properties.

Benefits: Forms a protective network on the skin's surface. It is also an anti-oxidant and therefore has some free radical-scavenging ability (ie - fights harmful pollutants).

After processing, beeswax remains a biologically active product retaining anti-bacterial properties. It also contains vitamin A.

[Dario]

I used standard honey on cuttings mixed with hormone powder, but found the honey was too runny. So I started using manuka honey which is very thick and easy to apply, it also has an anti bacterial aspect to it.
I can take pics if you like however I have used the candle wax and vaseline on smaller cuts (no trunk chops as of yet), the largest about 2cm diameter.
I have also used the vaseline when cutting thick roots and flat cutting the base of larger trunks, but that is under the soil line so obviously can't take pics. I find that vaseline works well for this as it isn't as sticky as cut paste.
You can also mix things like cinnamon, powdered charcol and honey etc into your putty to add anti bacterial/fungal properties to it. Some people think this is unneccessary though, and I guess it comes down to wether or not you believe in using cut pastes period.
I will trial a combination of foil, vaseline and candle wax seperately on trunk chops this coming season.
Cheers, Dario.

[Andrew F]

I used standard honey on cuttings mixed with hormone powder, but found the honey was too runny. So I started using manuka honey which is very thick and easy to apply, it also has an anti bacterial aspect to it.
I can take pics if you like however I have used the candle wax and vaseline on smaller cuts (no trunk chops as of yet), the largest about 2cm diameter.
I have also used the vaseline when cutting thick roots and flat cutting the base of larger trunks, but that is under the soil line so obviously can't take pics. I find that vaseline works well for this as it isn't as sticky as cut paste.
You can also mix things like cinnamon, powdered charcol and honey etc into your putty to add anti bacterial/fungal properties to it. Some people think this is unneccessary though, and I guess it comes down to wether or not you believe in using cut pastes period.
I will trial a combination of foil, vaseline and candle wax seperately on trunk chops this coming season.
Cheers, Dario.

I can vouch for manueka honey as well all thought it needs to be reapplied regularly after watering or needs to mix with something to make it tacky and water resisitant.

Used here:
viewtopic.php?f=133&t=10487&start=0&hilit=Maneuka

Didnt work as well as i hoped, ill take progress shots tomorrow.

[Magzy]

Honey just seems to attract ants in my opinion, just pay the extra coin for a good paste that will flex with growth.
cheers Mark

[Dario]

Had a look at the link Velvet and saw that you used the manuka for sealing the cut/chop at the top of the cutting. Yeah, I suppose it would come off when watering.
I only use manuka for cuttings, not for pruning cuts above ground...did it attract ants?
Let us know how you go with the bees wax mate. And I will let yo know how I go with what I will be trialing after winter.
Cheers, Dario.

[Andrew F]

Had a look at the link Velvet and saw that you used the manuka for sealing the cut/chop at the top of the cutting. Yeah, I suppose it would come off when watering.
I only use manuka for cuttings, not for pruning cuts above ground...did it attract ants?
Let us know how you go with the bees wax mate. And I will let yo know how I go with what I will be trialing after winter.
Cheers, Dario.

No more than the scale attracts.

No worries Dario, will do.