Comment

Comment by amer chohan on January 6, 2013 at 11:31am

You will learn it Sentinent. Learning depend upon intrest levels and need. I noticed you got some intrest in grafting. 

When I started it, inspite of all the readings and youtube videos it was more failure than success. Then a time came when my costly seedlings were destroying because of my inability to graft. Then I decided to do it the hard way. Grafting on Pereskiopsis(a cactus used for grafting of cactus seedlings). Its grafting is one of the most difficult one. Extra quick hand are needed because cut on stock dries up in few seconds.  Graft should be moved into high humidity chamber within a minute. Graft should remain in specific conditions at least for  7 to 10 days. Anything less than that means failure.One nearly forgets about combination of the rings.

After a lot of reading, hardwork and cuts on hands when I learned that, grafting on bigger stocks became so easy that now I can do it with my eyes closed.

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 6, 2013 at 9:48am

Joan, finding those is a result of too much time on internet :)  the Pooktre trees really got me thinking!  

I've grafted apples with some success.  Not a lot of success with cherries.  Maybe I'll be better at it after taking the class.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 6, 2013 at 1:53am

I imagine willow will be a good tree to practice grafting. I understand they grow from cuttings of new wood, so you could have lots of starts. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 6, 2013 at 1:51am

Between artist Phil Ross and his fungi furniture, and Alex (or Axel) Erlandson and Pooktre method of tree pruning you will have enough ideas to last a life-time. Where did you find these two very interesting people? 

Comment by Sentient Biped on January 5, 2013 at 7:41pm

Growing furniture.

Artist Phil Ross grows furniture from sawdust, which he shapes into furniture, grows fungus to create texture and strength, then bakes and finishes.  NewScientist.

This link.

Then there's pooktre method for shaping trees, for furniture and ornament.

more photos of pootre method here.

How to?  arborsmith.com

Alex (or Axel) Erlandson was big into shaping trees.

Or a willow cathedral?

All in fun.  I'm taking a grafting class this month, but I'm not likely  to graft furniture.  Maybe some multigraft fruit trees.  I do have a source of willow that might be fun to shape....   Who knows?

Comment by amer chohan on December 28, 2012 at 1:10pm

My wife says God is punishing the infidel this winter by opening the heavens again and again and destroying his cactus. Do Gods in America behave in this cheep manner too?

Comment by amer chohan on December 28, 2012 at 6:16am

Sentinent! Its ok with beans but never try opuntia seeds. One of the hardest thing on the earth.

Comment by Sentient Biped on December 27, 2012 at 9:45am

Seed catalogs coming in the mail. 

For short-season and cool-summer areas like mine, I'm sticking with the seedsavers.com, vermont bean seed co, territorial seeds...  and looking at days to ripeness.  Burpee has some very enticing pictures....  but this year I'm trying not to be seduced by the flashiest.  Trying.  Trying.

Comment by Randall Smith on December 27, 2012 at 7:34am

I plead ignorance to opuntias. So I learned something here. Interesting.

Comment by Sentient Biped on December 25, 2012 at 3:43pm

Amer,

Maybe I'll try again.  There are hardy varieties.  I enjoy opuntias a lot.

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