Tuesday 16 September 2014

Post 170 New hairpin insertion graft

In Post 132 from November last year  I showed a hairpin insertion graft I did for the first time on a Queensland Small Leaf Fig.
There have been two updates the first in March and then July.
At the starting blocks for this season both those grafts have multiple shoots and are showing all the signs of developing good secondary branches. I'm confident that by the end of this season they will be well developed and look like they've always been there.

I have another tree of the same species that also needs a little help.



 At the top of the tree there is a section of trunk that has clear air behind it. At this level in the tree the branching needs to be fuller and so I want to place a new branch to fill the gap.

This is a closer view from the front. You can see a new shoot starting up from the trunk - going out to the left. I could conceivably use it by training it to the rear but that isn't an ideal outcome. It might be more useful bringing it towards the front left.


 This is a picture form the rear. From this angle it is very clearly a gap that needs filling.

 The new branch needs to come out somewhere just close to the new little shoot but just a little below it.

 This is the hairpin that has been prepared for some time. I initially wound it up with some raffia and then wire to shape.

 Here it is unwrapped.

 This is the position to drill a hole.

 After drilling. Quite a large diameter and depth for the size of the trunk but I have no doubts it will be fine.The hole is about 6mm depth.

 The preparation of the scion involves just a light scrape on the upper and lower surfaces to initiate callus development on the scion to bond with the host.

 Here the scion is inserted.

 I've made up a small wire loop to insert with the scion the make sure it stays well seated.

 Here the wire is positioned to hold the scion in position.

And finally with some cut paste to seal and initial wire for shape. The scion is in clear light so once incorporated will allow fast branch development. In two months it should be ready for separation.

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