AusBonsai

i just today put an approach graft on my ficus, and was wondering what would be the minimum time to allow it to fuse?, i live on the gold coast so my ficus is fast grower if that helps

Boom..they usually take at least a couple of months, but leave for twice that to be sure.carefull inspection is advised before separating donor end of branch.....take care trimming back after that as well. ....Dog

Boom one thing to be aware of is that graft is always a weak point so when you are working it, or around it be careful.
I speak from experience the graft was there for 4 years. I thought it would be OK but it was not.

Cheers Pup

Boom1979 wrote:i just today put an approach graft on my ficus, and was wondering what would be the minimum time to allow it to fuse?, i live on the gold coast so my ficus is fast grower if that helps

Up to 90 days in the shade.

Always will be a weak point Pup, I heard of a tree in a UK park which snapped at the graft - after 100 years!

90 days will be minimum before you can unwrap the graft tape, i have left mine on for a fair while, and will still leave it until i know it has fully taken, and then it will be a delicate process of wiring, little by little not heavy wired then just reefed around.


jamie

Jamie wrote:90 days will be minimum before you can unwrap the graft tape, i have left mine on for a fair while, and will still leave it until i know it has fully taken, and then it will be a delicate process of wiring, little by little not heavy wired then just reefed around.jamie

Jerry states in his book 90 to 120 days. i tried one last year and failed miserably.

thanks all for the input, i guess ill leave it for bout 3 months and carefully inspectit. If i'm not satisfied ill rewrap for another 3 months and so on

Jerry states in his book 90 to 120 days. i tried one last year and failed miserably.

i had one fail after 15 days as the plastic bag i had on it got blown off by a strong wind and took the graft with it, it was a heel (free) graft though, so i had to redo it again, this time it seems to be taking though, i havent had a leave drop yet and no discolouration and its been about 30 days with it on so heres hoping

i will keep it wrapped for a fair while those as the graft on mine is to become a new leader and i need it to take strongly.

jamie

i did my approach graft's to bring 2 of my branches to the other side of the tree, thanks for all the help guys, Excellent

Great information supplied above.
You can create problems with approach grafts by making the trough too wide for the graft. Make the trough small enough to allow the graft with some pressure. The tighter the fit the better.
As with any graft avoid any movement of the graft.
Allow rampant growth of the graft.
Success of the graft may be confirmed by;
1.thickening and flattening of the originally round branch of the graft
2.lots of new growth
It never hurts to leave the graft on for a year or even more. It can always be cut off and succeed. Cut off too early and it fails.
Jerry