I have done some grafting with the rubber bands. They usually deteriorate and break off on their own. Last year I covered some with wax and they didn't break. I had a couple grafts get girdled? Is that the right word? Looks wrong. Anyway, this year, I have covered the bands with parafilm and am wondering if I will have to remove them. How long would you wait on a whip/tongue graft before removing the grafting tape? Is a month too short? I have never read how long it takes for the graft union to form. Thanks for the help.
Sometimes I use PVC electrical tape and leave it on for an entire summer, then winter, then remove it the next spring when things are budding out.
If your grafts took, and the bindings have been on about a year, yeah, it's time to get them off, or at least slit them so they will not constrict the graft union any more.
These are grafts I did this year, actually in the last 2 weeks. Last year, I grafted some old gravenstein wood onto a tree and before the end of the summer it grew from 1/4" diameter to 3/4" diameter. With the wax, the band didn't degrade and break and the branch had a complete 1/4" circle 'cut' into it. I had to prune it off. I just do not want that to happen again. I guess I can just watch for growth. Some are leafing out already and my ultra-dwarf fuji has blossoms about to open. Things seem early this year.
Yep, it really does depend on growth made. My instance was topworking a low vigor tree with lots of branches removed and worked over to new kinds of apples. They each grew maybe a foot or two max. But in the instance of a single scion growing 12 feet in a season (I had a Brooks prune do that, mature root system pushing it), better keep an eye on that tape or band! I have seen exactly what you described. Us grafters really do need to keep an eye on our work.
Two months should be about right, I would just split the parafilm with a razor blade.
If the grafts are properly wrapped I don't think the rubbers need to be covered with anything and the they will definetly degrade and fall off.
Time will tell but I used the parafilm over the bands to see if the parafilm keeping moisture in would help marginal grafts. So far it is looking good. I did some grafts I knew weren't perfect and they are starting to leaf. But 2 nights of 24 degrees didn't help I bet.
I have grafted very successfully using 3/4" masking tape and just leave it alone, it deteriorates at the right time. You can wrap with parafilm, but not necessary. BTW, I would like to know if anyone has a 4' strip of parafilm I can get. I'm in Ohio-- add. Charlie Preston 21615 Old Mansfield Rd.
Bellville, Ohio 44813