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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > What sealant is the best???
 
 


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twobrothersgarden

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
What is a good sealant for covering the exposed cut area of non tip cuttings?

I see a lot of cuttings in pictures on the forum with some kind of black material covering the exposed cuts.
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Henry, Brawley, California, 9B

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COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Personally I like food grade paraffin wax.  I've been using it to seal the tips of Scionwood when grafting my fruit trees for years. I just used it seal fig cuttings I started the other day.  I have seen people use toilet ring wax, and there are many types commercial tree and grafting sealants.

What is the "best" is open widely to interpretation.

http://answers.walmart.com/answers/1336/product/10420578/questions.htm
Frankallen

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I think what you are referring to is "Liquid Electrical Tape" Several people use it. I was told of it by KK ..Works Great! Hope this helps.:)
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Frank from Bama-  Zone 7-b Alabama

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waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
I just use 1" grafting/budding tape to seal the ends, quick and easy once you get a standard method. Just break an adequate piece off the roll, wrap around once or twice leaving half the width of the tape to fold over to give a complete seal. May need 2" for larger diameter cuttings.
twobrothersgarden

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Liquid electric tape. I would have never guessed that's what that was. Haha.
Thank you frank.
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Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Food grade Paraffin works for me as well, specially if you have several to do on both sides... dipping takes a second and roots come through it  with no problem.
I also like the idea of leaving the cuttings in the fridge for few weeks that help them callus all around the cut areas.

I have seen people use electrician's liquid tape on the tree after pruning, it's easy with a soft art brush...but then, how safe is it. I freak out on toxicity of things available on market. I dunno!
Speedmaster

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Oh, you are supposed to seal it?
I root cutting without sealing but I make sure they do not dry by covering with plastic bag.
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greenfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Liquid electrical tape for me too. Comes in three colors
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cyberfarmer

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Henry,

What is your reason for wanting to use a sealant? I have never sealed the ends of my cuttings and I assume that most people do not. Not saying one way is right or wrong, but I always try to avoid extra steps if they are not necessary. I would suggest that you keep a control group of unsealed cuttings and compare to see if the sealed ones do any better. When I receive cuttings, they are always kept in a plastic bag with some damp paper towels or other stuff. Then, they go into a box of damp moss, and then the humidity bin, and after that you have roots and leaves, so there is no more worry about it drying out. I've never lost a cutting due to desiccation; more likely from mold, over watering, or too much heat/cold.
  
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Paul the Fig Tree Destroyer in Fallbrook, CA (Zone 10A )
Rob

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Agree with Paul.  No reason to use a sealant.  May not hurt anything, but doesn't help either, in my opinion.  I have seen almost 100% rooting success without sealant.  So how could it improve on that?
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Rob
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gabeE2407

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Unwise or not, I have been using gel medium (conforms to ASTM D 4236) which I normally use for crafts and artwork. It is creamy white, with the consistency of mayonnaise; applied with a small brush, it dries to a clear film and seems to work well as a sealant.
zone5figger

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
I had it on hand, so I've been using parafilm use for most of my grafting, which breathes, but prevents moisture loss.  I'm concerned about my cuttings drying out because I'm direct potting them-no humidity bin, pre-rooting, etc.
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Jesse- zone 5, 1000' elevation
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