1st attempt at grafting question.... how long before the new scion should show signs of life?

thanks

dan or

We grafted 2 Ariel plums on 2nd April from the same batch of graftwood. Within a week the buds appeared slightly swollen on both and I was fairly hopeful. The first one showed leaves after another week or so. The second one seemed to do nothing, but just last week (after nearly 4 weeks) it too has broken into leaf. I hope that helps.

It appears to depend on several factors, like when the graft was made; was the rootstock dormant; recent weather temperatures; was there ‘plenty’ or just marginal cambial contact; what type of cultivar (tree)..?

I had three persimmon grafts sit until midsummer before finally leafing out and taking off …I’d nearly tilled them in assuming they hadn’t taken.

Be patient, and don’t unwrap them to ‘find out.’ Do watch the scion buds are not chewed on, if so, some Tanglefoot or Vaseline around their base can slow up insect activity until they get a better start…

If you still have dormant scions stored you can always re-graft. If not, there’s nothing you can do until budding season in August or dormant grafting again next winter.

You should see very subtle but tiny changes in how the bud looks, and they should continue to change. It may take much more than a month for a full leaf to show up. I have to remove my glasses to see them, but they are there.
John S
PDX OR

Thanks for the info Viron. Makes sense.

If the scion has shriveled up, it's dead.
John S
PDX OR