Citrus > Citrus General Discussion
Tips for grafting kumquats?
Dr Bob:
Any tips for grafting kumquats varieties? I would really like a potted “cocktail” kumquat tree and have what I presume is a Nagami that was purchased from a big box store last year that is doing well on its own roots (clearly not grafted).
Trouble is, l have tried three separate times to graft on this tree(and on a couple of others I have, too) with other varieties (Meiwa, variegated centennial, fukushu, and Norman seedless), and none have taken. A couple of attempts were bug grafts, but more recently I have used a cleft graft based on video from Hershel at Madison citrus nursery. Anyone else find kumquat difficult to graft, or just me?
brian:
I get pretty poor take rate on my citrua grafts in general but kumquats don't seem any worse. I understand budding has a >90% success rate for experts so I think skill and timing are the main factors. I am just not very good at it.
My own grafted kumquats that survived are doing fine - a couple years later
JSea:
It shouldn't be difficult to cleft graft kumquats, the times I did it I get pretty high takes.
Do you know why your grafts are failing? Maybe they're dehydrating? Are you sunburning them?
Dr Bob:
--- Quote from: brian on June 03, 2025, 06:03:17 PM ---I get pretty poor take rate on my citrua grafts in general but kumquats don't seem any worse. I understand budding has a >90% success rate for experts so I think skill and timing are the main factors. I am just not very good at it.
My own grafted kumquats that survived are doing fine - a couple years later
--- End quote ---
Sorry you have also had some spotty dives with grafting, but glad I’m not the only one!
I attempted several bud grafts last year, and the only one that took was a shiranui on rubidoux rootstock, which looks great now. This year I shifted more to cleft grafting, and had success with a couple of varieties of finger lime, 2 for 2 on variegated Cara Cara grafts, but all kumquats failed, as did a kishu graft. Might look at Bud grafting again as I felt like my improved experience might help.
Dr Bob:
--- Quote from: JSea on June 03, 2025, 06:32:51 PM ---It shouldn't be difficult to cleft graft kumquats, the times I did it I get pretty high takes.
Do you know why your grafts are failing? Maybe they're dehydrating? Are you sunburning them?
--- End quote ---
Last year, I feel like a few did dry out. This year, I double wrapped the lengths of graft with parafilm, and felt like I had decent cambium contact with tight grafting tape, and kept them out of the most direct sun for most of the day (put them under my deck, so only got a couple of hours of sun in the late afternoon). I actually tried a couple of Hail Mary attempts at kumquat grafting after it was clear the first round had failed, and kept these in my grow tent I overwinter my citrus in, but understood that using grafts that had been in ziplock bags in the fridge for 2 weeks, the likelihood of success in these cases was very low (they all failed).
It is quite possible it is user error, I just don’t know how to improve my chances with such spotty success. I really want a meiwa and Nordman seedless on my Nagano tree to save space but have some different varieties to try!
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