After years of trying, I think I have two t-buds that are successful. They've been green for about 3 months and bulging just a wee bit. But I'm not sure when the best time is to cut off the tops just above the graft(s).

Winter is coming up, the tree (a dwarf Clementine that partially died back and sent up suckers...I've grafted onto two of the 3 ft tall suckers) will be mostly in the shade of the house until March. The leaves on the suckers look like trifolate, they're small and seem to be in groups of 3. There are leaves a foot above the grafts, they might get a little morning sun, but just barely if at all. Do I cut off the tops now, or wait until the buds send out shoots? Or wait until the weather warms up in the spring...

John

Buddinman gave me the same advice in a private message. I hope he reads this because there is an error and I can't respond to him. I have 4 messages in my outbox that can't be sent, and I can't find a link to contact the administrator.

At any rate, congratulations on your success! I'd love to hear how they take! It's sort of discouraging that you have tried for a long time and finally only 2 took, because I really want a bunch of them to take at once for a special place in our yard.

If my seedlings sprout, I will definitely try some bending the root stock and some cutting the root stock, just to see if there is a difference.

Good luck to you. Please post the outcome!

Suzi