Best time to pull foil off of grafts

[CarolinaZone]

I have some grafts that I wanted try to protect with foil. They are now pushing. When should I remove the foil?

[John B]

Once the leaves start to form, I open them up. I still leave the foil on and make sure that it's protected from the sun. I do that for about a week, then will completely take it off in small increments. Maybe about an hour the first day completely off, then work from there. But it also depends on if you're growing in a greenhouse and light intensity.

We have very intense light and the grafts and leaves can go into shock if it's just pulled off. In this picture I'm leaving the foil open around the loquat scion but it's protecting it from direct sunlight.

[SHV]

For grafting, I think the white paper cookie bags are the best thing since sliced bread.  Spaugh mentioned using them for his avocado grafts. I tried them out and they are an ideal solution. They have a tie at the top of the bag to secure to the tree branch, plastic window for some light exposure and checking on the new growth, and lined inside with plastic to maintain a more humid environment for the scion.  And they are reusable!  Far superior to aluminum, that I previously used for grafting.

[CarolinaZone]

Once the leaves start to form, I open them up. I still leave the foil on and make sure that it's protected from the sun. I do that for about a week, then will completely take it off in small increments. Maybe about an hour the first day completely off, then work from there. But it also depends on if you're growing in a greenhouse and light intensity.

We have very intense light and the grafts and leaves can go into shock if it's just pulled off. In this picture I'm leaving the foil open around the loquat scion but it's protecting it from direct sunlight.

You must have read my mind John. Yep, the grafts are loquats. Thanks for the advice the both of you guys.