AusBonsai

ok i need to do a couple of approach grafts to fix up one of my ficus, i dont have any grafting wax, is there anything i can use as a substitute? something thats found in most households?

Are you doing it now, at the end of the growing season?

depends how you plan to do it but you can use map pins, thumb tacks, plastic wrap, anything that will hold the approach in place...

Some reading...
http://nichigobonsai.com/tag/approach-grafting/

http://bonsaistudygroup.com/advanced-gr ... oach-graft

My dad always used candle wax. Just light a candle, let the wax drip on.

Glenda

I'm planning on doing it now yes, its for some figs, they are still growing strongly, being in qld they grow year round

Hornet you do not need to use any sealer on approach grafts. As both parts have roots that will feed the grafts until it grows enough to unite there is no risk of either drying out. Just make sure the graft is held tightly together or the developing callus tends to push the pieces apart and they do not unite. I usually just wrap tightly with grafting tape but for grafts where the trunk is thick or where you cannot wrap drill a tint hole in the scion and nail it onto the stock with a small nail or pin it.

If you still want to seal the grafts, try some of the following:
In the real old days, grafters smeared clay over a graft to stop it drying out (later discovered that clay can contain pathogens and infect wounds but works most of the time). An old guy showed me how he wrapped grafts with waxed brown paper to wrap grafts. Bonsai cut paste works well to seal grafts.
Have not tried either but vaseline or plasticene should be ok.
Grafting wax is usually available at nurseries, including the B shop. Some wound sealers are ok too.

I have used blue tack.

As QV once said, if you put a ficus & the scion in the same room, it will usually take. but on a more serious note, egg white also works well as a sealant. miyagiman.