On 17/05/2010 06:11, Michael Bell wrote:
Soon I am going to do some grafting of green (this year's growth) to
green material, about 3 mm in diameter. I did not succeed in this last
year, but then I am not very clever with my fingers. One of the things
I found difficult was to bind the two pieces together. So this year I
am thinking of experimenting with heat-shrink tubing and I wonder if
there is any experience of this out there or any thoughts.

Heat-shrink tubing is widely used in the electrical industries as a
neater alternative to insulating tape. You can buy it in Maplin's or
on line. It is available in a range of sizes, and a size suitable for
my purpose is available. The idea is that you cut off a length of
heat-shrink tubing and slide it over the stem (or wire), then you join
the stem (or wire) and then slide the heat-shrink tubing back over the
join and use a heater to shrink the tubing onto the stem (or wire).
Various types of heater are available. I hope that will achieve two
things, it will hold the joined stems firmly together and it will stop
moisture loss. Obviously the stem mustn't be heated too much, but it
is the tubing around it which I am trying to shrink, and the heating
should be only for a few seconds.

So, has anybody got any experience or comments on this?

Unfortunately the heat needed to make heat shrink tubing do the
shrinking will cook the plant stem. It might still be useful as an
external support for a newly made graft even if it is a loose fit or
tacked on with PVA or cyanoacrylate glue.

Regards,
Martin Brown