The plugger grafting method

[Paulneill]

Hi all,

I have discovered a grafting technique I would like to share with you all.
Basically you take your branch /sion and stick it in a pencil and sharpen the end to be inserted into the trunk.
drill a hole trunk with a cone cutter of the same size and simply insert it.
This technique is referred to as the( plugger ) and has a low success rate as a free graft due to the lack of contact.


Personally I think using a straight drill bit and inserting the sion with the cambium striped of it would work even better to hold the branch in place.

I don't think I would try this method as a free graft but instead use it as a way to fix branches where I want them using an air layer with the roots trained down the trunk if it was a fig tree or attach a small pot or moss below the graft to contain the roots while the graft takes place.

I would love to hear any of your views on this

Regards paul

[DustyRusty]

I'm new to grafting. From the reading I've done I see myself sticking to threadgrafting for along time. TGing seems to have some many pros and so few cons.

[Paulneill]

Yea dusty approach grafts are all I have ever done so far .
The reason I'm Intrested in this method it to graft very large sections of trunk and branches . I have an old lanky benjimin fig tree I am planning to graft the whole top half section of trunk and 5 or 6 branches using airlayers holding it together with stainless screws and dressing the arial roots down the trunk into the soil.

[Biofusion]

I'm going to try this method with root grafting on my port Jackson fig.

Then again, it's a fig so I think it would not a good indication of success considering their readiness for accepting unions of fusion.

However, I will drill a small hole, much smaller than the overall diameter of the donor root.

Then I will whittle down the root to suit the size of the hole, and then flatten off the area to come in contact with the cambium on trunk.

I am then planning to trace out with a pen the outline of the root and then cut away the bark of the trunk to expose the cambium to get it as close a fit as possible, I'll then most likely either put a dab of glue on the end of the donor root plug, or dip it in honey, and then marry up the root to the trunk.

My only concern is anchoring it so it doesn't move, using some sort of biodegradable adhesive around the cut site to secure it, but that may produce an unnatural callus,

But perhaps the honey of glue, with the addition of some sphagnum moss or potting mix around it might hold it in place long enough for it to fuse.

I'm keen to try it. And this thread has opened up a source to see what people's experiences could be with either branch or root grafts using this technique.