Hi everyone,

more than 3 months ago I grafted my caprifig, according to this video:

Did you put your graft in the middle of the branch or off to the side?

in the middle of the branch, just like in the video

I don't see leaves on the tree. If the tree is still dormant, then the buds on the grafts are also waiting for the tree to break dormancy.

Shur,

Look at this page

https://www.google.pt/search?q=cleft+grafting+Peter&client=firefox-a&hs=AbF&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=LZM1U5e4D-6v7Aa64oDIDQ&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=614#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=G0VEH1MBbPdhrM%253A%3B4BHkmaUIOA6YjM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.extension.org%252Fsites%252Fdefault%252Ffiles%252Fw%252F3%252F32%252FCleft_graft.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.extension.org%252Fpages%252F32923%252Fgrafting-grape-vines%3B350%3B263

Yout grafts (scions) must go into the peripheral zone of the cleft (on the root stock) in such a manner that the green live layer ( cambium ) on both scion and stock coincide and remain tight together

I am under the impression that the scions may be out to the center of the root stock where there is no cambium at all... just wood.

Francisco

Hi Shur,
Could you remove the plastic from one of the grafts and take close photos of the joint between rootstock and graft?
The grafts are still green; you could do them fresh again if needed ...
Did you take photos while grafting ? To see if we can help ...
From what I see in the photo, the grafts are in full sun - and with the plastic, I would fear to cook them.
Can you provide some shadow at the grafts levels ?
Do you water the root-stock ?

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/treeshru/clftgrft.htm
If you look at this link you can see as lampo stated, the correct alignment of the cambium layers.

Hello Shur.

As Francisco & Chapman have pointed out, you must align the cambium layers up on the scion with the cambium on the rootstock. This is where the life of the tree flows. The video didn't seem to show the importance of that. It doesn't have to align on both sides of the rootstock but on one side at least.

I've done many cleft grafts and I usually try to be a little more careful and precise in making my cuts than the old fellow in the video. Granted, he may have a great success rate but I was squirming in my seat a little while watching him "whittle" on those pieces of scion LOL. Just my way of thinking I guess ;). 

As jdsfrance mentions, the scion still looks viable. Maybe you could take things apart and re-do them. If not on the same branch then maybe on a different section of the nursing tree. Don't dismay. It looks like your parent trees are still in a good flush of growth. This is the perfect time to graft figs outdoors IMO.

What part of the world are you in? Do you know your agricultural zone?

I hope our combined information is helpful.

Thanks everyone!
I suspect you're right. Apparently I did a pretty shoddy job with these grafts. See the attached picture, there is absolutely no contact between the cambium layers.  

What I don't understand is how these scions are still viable; they been out in full sun without cover for more than a month! You'd expect them to be bone-dry by now.

If you say now is still a good time to graft, I will try to save what I can today. I really hope it's not too late.

Jdfrance, yes, The root-stock is watered. I will provide shade for the new grafts. The old grafts were properly protected for two months and I removed the cover only when the tree started to leaf out.

Saxonfig, I live in Israel so it's a Mediterranean climate. Zone 9, I think. 


Edit: ok, I re-grafted the scions. they were still green and moist, so let's hope it's not too late.

Shur,

/ ...What I don't understand is how these scions are still viable; they been out in full sun without cover for more than a month! You'd expect them to be bone-dry by now./ ...

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Your scions are still viable due to the fact that when you finished the job you  have  sealed the area of the cleft with all those plastics and the perspiration from the rootstock mainly, was not lost and enough to generate sufficient moisture to keep the scions alive or,  very slowly cooking under the sun .
Another month and the natural temp rise of the season would brake that balance and dry the sticks completely..

Francisco

thanks lampo!

assuming I did everything right this time, when should I expect to see results?

Shur

Assuming you did everything right this time, I would say that you should leave the grafts alone and in 3 week/ a month time check how fat the scion buds are.. or may be there are already some new leaves .. and to send us pictures. I follow this procedure and I can assure you that the pleasure is far better.

Good luck

Francisco

UPDATE:

well, one month later I can report on some encouraging results!

One of the scions that I re-grafted (unknown purple fig) actually survived the ordeal and leafed out, which is quite a miracle considering what it has been through. the leaves are a little misshapen because it was completely covered in a plastic bag, but it's looking good.

Three other scions didn't make it, and another three are still looking healthy but haven't done anything so far.

So, I want to thank everyone who helped me save at least that one scion! yes, I did a crappy job the first time, but hey, it's all about trial and error.

So fun.. the danger now, is if you did not use the proper streacheable plastic or parafin for graft, you need to watch for 'suffocation'. As the scion tries to grow out it cannot, so, I'd would open it in another week, but be prepared to 'reclose' again to allow more support.
 I have one that I put 3 varieties onto it, I have a tiny wire that I have securing in place, I am terrified they are going to open up and fall from where they are. I am a bit on the paranoid ending...

I did so many of them to learn on my big tree, and out of many, only one survived the cold winter. Now, I have to start all over.  Yours is looking very good!

thanks, Grasa. The tape is not as tight around the scion as it seems, but i'll keep an eye on it.

Shur,

Good job, Congratulations
It just needs a last touch which has to do with a mandatory protection against the casual bird coming to land on your live scion. Its weight could easily destroy all your nice work.
Have a look on 'etape 9' of this page which deals with the type of graft you have used as well as the suggested protection arrangement

http://www.deco.fr/jardin-jardinage/travaux-entretien/actualite-567544-greffer-arbre-fruitier.html

Good luck

Francisco