Citrus Growers Forum

gdbanks · Posted: Thu 25 Jul, 2013 4:37 am

so i have a meyer lemon that i rooted from a cutting. it is growing fine but i wanted to try to graft roots onto it so this spring that is what i have done to one of the branches. the rootstock and the meyer lemon have grown together but know i would like your input.

i did cut the top off to promote the union but i did let one of the growth shoots survive just because i was not sure how well the two halves communicate. should i just cut everything above the graft and prevent all growth now from the rootstock?

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looking for cold hardy citrus

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Sylvain · Posted: Thu 25 Jul, 2013 8:30 am

Not very clear. Could you send pictures?

Millet · Posted: Thu 25 Jul, 2013 12:18 pm

What was the purpose of grafting a rootstock onto the scion of a tree. What are you trying to accomplish? - Millet

buddinman · Posted: Thu 25 Jul, 2013 12:24 pm

Plant a new rootstock would be best. Preferably Flying dragon or Trifoliata orange for your area.

gdbanks · Posted: Thu 25 Jul, 2013 11:13 pm

i have read in other areas of the board were different root stocks have been added to trees. i think this is to provide additional strength to the tree. if memory serves me well one of the trees that has had this done is the parent to the navel orange in riverside, CA.

i mainly just wanted to try it to see if i can. besides i would think having a tap root system from the root stock, to be beneficial to the tree in a drought.

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i may try to do this to a bigger tree that just has not grown much. maybe adding

_________________
looking for cold hardy citrus

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6122668-glenn-banks-dds

Sylvain · Posted: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 3:14 am

Ah! OK.
It is called inarch grafting. Yours look like it has succeeded. I think you can cut the upper part of the root-stock.

citrange · Posted: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 5:47 pm

A few years ago I wanted to save a dying Australian hybrid. I thought of inarching, but didn't have a tall enough or thick enough rootstock. So I took the best I had, and simply placed the rootstock pot inside the other larger pot and joined the plants together above the dying stem. Much to my surprise the hybrid styarted producing shoots all around the graft. I left it like this for some time, but eventually cut away the rotting old trunk and original top - leaving the new rootstock and a 'lump' with new shoots. You will understand from the photos:
Complete plant now:

One side in close-up. The green bit is the inarching rootstock. The original stem is on the left:

Other side close-up. All these are new shoots from the remaining 2" (5cms) of old trunk:

It's not too beautiful, and a bit top-heavy, but it lives!

Mike/Citrange