Here is the variegated shoot that developed on my Cara Cara. I don't have grafting experience and all of my Flying Dragon seedlings are too small. I want to preserve this shoot and I'm debating on trying to root it. It's not that big, so I would only have one shot.

Should I continue to let it grow or try to root it? What is the opinion on it's size for this purpose? I'd say the branch is about half the size of a pencil.

I really want to preserve this thing, the variegation appears to be very nice and Cara Cara's are one of my favorite varieties.

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There is much more to propagation than just getting roots to forum. It is all about energy (carbohydrates). If you start with weak cuttings that contain little energy, problems will abound. Start with a cutting with good energy reserves. Do not skimp on quality of the ingredients for the rooting medium Oxygen is necessary for root respiration at all times, but oxygen plays an even more critical role in the initiation of new roots on a cutting. For rooting of cuttings, drainable pore space in the medium should be 45 to 50 percent. Once the cutting has rooted and is then transfered into a one gallon container the drainable pore space in the medium should be about 20 to 25 percent. Cells cannot function and divide without energy. Energy for initial root production must come from the parent tree and be already present in the cutting. Provide nutrition, light, and other growing conditions favorable for the plant from the time cuttings are stuck. If you place a cutting in a container three inches deep and one Ina a container four inches deep, using the same medum, aeration is much better in the deeper container. Therefore, use NO container with a depth less than 3.5 inches. The dissolved minerals in water used to mist cuttings can have a profound influence on rooting and subsequent growth. High sodium and high bicarbonates are the most common culprits. In general, the lower the mineral content of the mist water, the better cuttings root. If you do not have a rooting bench that provides bottom heat and an automatic misting system, and therefore you must use the bag method the general success rate is approximately 50 percent. Looking at the picture of your variegated cutting I would strongly recommend that you wait until the cutting contains much more energy, then it looks to presently have. In the meantime you can practice your T-bud techniques, with an eye to perhaps T-budding a bud from the variegated branch. Often I will both T-bud a bud or two and than also root the cutting. Good luck to your and you cutting. (Plant Production in Containers II)- Millet (909-)

Thanks for the advice Millet. If the the cutting looks too small to it give a decent chance, then I will wait. I don't have a misting bench and I've never rooted any citrus cuttings. I was hoping it would branch out more so I would have more than once chance. I had no idea that container depth mattered that much in rooting as well. Hopefully, this thing will branch out more, the variegation is really nice.

The Flying Dragon seedlings are at least a year away.


EDIT: On the T-budding idea, what should I practice on?

any results with the rooting procedure ?

I haven't cut it yet, I took Millet's advice, it would likely die.

How big is your rootstock? I have done t budding on root stock half the siE of a pencil.
You can use your fd root stock. Only thing you gotta wait for is for the bark to be slipping on your rootstock and give it a go.

Yeah thats on the small end. I have learned alittle from alot of members here. What I did to learn is read the t budding tutorial till I memorized it then went on practicing on a grown tree until I got the hang of it then started doing big rootstock then I tried smaller witht good success.
From my learning process I learned
1. Bark MUST be slipping or else the best bud wont work
2. When I wrapped the bud I only pit one layer of parafilm now I put two.
3. In summer leave it alone DON'T open it at all (I was very anxious) for atleast 14 days. You'll see what caught by that time.
4. When its ready after 14 days cut the top off.
Hope this helps

Nice info David.Thx