Re: [nafex] grafting tape

On 4/22/2020 4:44 AM, Alan Haigh wrote:
> As mentioned, the use of parafilm is to hold in moisture, I doubt it lets
> any oxygen in. I use electric tape to hold my splice grafts together and
> then wrap my scion with the parafilm. Pears and apples don't really need it
> and a dab of some kind of sealant at the tip is generally adequate.
>
> Vinyl electric tape can eventually girdle apple grafts but peach growth is
> strong enough to force it to stretch. A longitudinal cut with a razor knife
> after the tissue is merged and strong is sometimes needed, but if you
> unwrap it when the bark isn't slipping you can usually get away with that
> without peeling off any bark. Alternatively, you can use rubber electric
> tape which stretches much more than vinyl.
>
> Where the parafilm seems useful and even necessary is with stonefruit,
> persimmon and paw paw grafts.
>
> I exclusively use splice grafts because they are the quickest and require
> the least skill, especially if you use a double bladed Italian pruning
> shear to cut the scion and annual shoot (or 2nd year) you are grafting
> together. If you match diameters any idiot can do it without ever cutting
> their fingers. The trick is to make long diagonal cuts of scion and mother
> wood as close to the same as you can. This creates a lot of matching
> cambium.
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   Alan,

   There are many kinds of grafting tapes that can retain the moisture
of a graft union.  People have been known to use masking tape and other
such products that should moisture seal the graft. Parafilm will also
breath as it does in its usage in the medical world where wounds do
better with exposure to air.  Question is, does the Parafilm have any
advantage over other grafting tapes because it allows air to reach the
graft union?

                  Sherwin

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