fusion! OMG its cold.

October 15, 2006 2:16 PM

DIY grafting tape?

Ive got two lychee plants. One is a year+ old the other is a month. Id like to fuse them but don't have grafting tape. What could i use as an alternative that one might find around the home?

it doesn't have to be anything fancy since im not cutting and fusing, just holding them together for a year or two.

posted by Tryptophan-5ht to Science & Nature (2 answers total)

I've seen electric tape or rubber strips used. I think it's most important to have something relatively low- tack, so you can remove it later without damaging the plants.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:22 PM on October 15, 2006

I've had luck using plumber's tape. It can be hard to unravel, though (I use a sharp knife to score the tape then peel off with fingernails) but it's waterproof and makes a really tight connection. Have you considered using parafilm?

You can get it (plumber's tape) easily at most hardware stores; it's wrapped around the threads of pipes before screwing them togather to prevent leaks. It's also used by oboists to patch reeds. Parafilm is uniquitous in most labs.
posted by porpoise at 3:44 PM on October 15, 2006